In this Resilience Unravelled episode, Dr Russell Thackeray interviews Celeste Warren, a US-based former chief diversity and inclusion officer who retired after nearly four decades in global corporations and now consults, speaks, and promotes her book The Truth About Equity.
Warren explains why equity is often misunderstood as preferential treatment and uses the ârocks and fenceâ analogy to show equity as giving people what they need without taking away from others, while the fence represents systemic âismsâ that require long-term change.
She emphasises the role of dialogue in widening entrenched perspectives formed early in life, addresses DE&I pushback by framing equity as pragmatic business, marketing, and leadership basics, and outlines a six-step âequity in actionâ model including awareness, access, advocacy, action, accountability, and empowerment.
She discusses AI hiring risks and the need for checks and balances, shares her goal of creating ripple effects through education and allyship, and closes with âstay relevant, stay supportive, and stay in the fight.â
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:49 Celesteâs Career Journey
02:36 Why Equity Matters
03:40 Rocks and Fence Explained
06:54 Mindsets and Upbringing
10:58 DEI Pushback and Proof
11:35 Equity as Business Basics
15:17 Who the Book Is For
16:09 From Awareness to Impact
17:39 Equity in the Age of AI
20:38 Big Dream and Ripple Effect
21:52 Where to Get the Book
22:16 Final Takeaways and Wrap
You can contact us at info@qedod.com
Resources can be found online or link to our website https://resilienceunravelled.com