Executive advisory for decisions that shape culture.
Executive advisory is a confidential thought partnership for senior leaders facing complex leadership, culture, talent and organizational challenges. CRW Diversity offers it through founder Celeste Warren, a former Fortune 100 Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
Last updated November 2026
Published by CRW Diversity
The short answer
When should a senior executive hire a DEI or culture advisor?
Hire an advisor when high-stakes decisions about talent, culture or organizational change need an outside view from someone who has held the role. CRW Diversity’s executive advisory gives senior leaders a confidential sounding board with nearly four decades of human resources and organizational leadership experience behind it.
Definition
What is executive advisory?
Executive advisory, as CRW Diversity offers it, is a confidential thought partnership for executives navigating complex leadership, culture, talent and organizational challenges. It is ongoing and private, and it starts with understanding where you are, what you are trying to accomplish, and what may be standing in the way.
It differs from training in timing: advice happens before and during decisions, while training usually happens after a problem is visible.
CRW Diversity by the numbers
The experience behind CRW Diversity's executive advisory, as stated by the business, as of November 2026. These are the founder's career facts, not client outcome claims.
- in human resources and organizational leadership
- Nearly 4 decades
- of experience at a Fortune 100 company
- 28 years
- leading global diversity and inclusion
- 10 years
- in the Equity in Action Model
- 6 elements
- The Truth About Equity and How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador
- 2 books
- executive advisory, leadership development, speaking and briefings
- 3 services
Moments when executives typically bring in an advisor
Every organization is different, but some situations come up often for senior leaders. An advisor who has spent decades inside a large organization has usually seen versions of them before.
- Talented people are ready to move forward, but the systems around them are not.
- Outcomes differ across teams and no one can explain why.
- A restructuring, leadership transition or policy change will affect who gets opportunities.
- Good intentions are not turning into results.
- The executive team needs to test ideas privately before taking a position.
What the work looks at
CRW Diversity’s approach examines both sides of the equation: how people lead and how organizations operate. In practice that means looking at policies, practices, access to opportunity, leadership decisions and unwritten norms alongside individual leadership behavior.
The Equity in Action Model gives the conversation structure. Its six elements, Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability and Empowerment, become questions an executive can apply to a real decision.
Why inside experience matters here
Celeste Warren spent nearly three decades inside a Fortune 100 company, including a decade as Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, working with executives, managers and teams around the world. Today, as founder of Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, she brings that experience to organizations that want practical solutions, not buzzwords or performative approaches.
Executive briefings and speaking
For leadership teams that want a shared starting point, CRW Diversity also offers keynotes, executive briefings and facilitated conversations that challenge audiences to think differently about leadership, culture, systems and the decisions that shape people’s experiences at work.
What leaders have said about Celeste Warren
Quoted as shown on crwdiversity.com.
"The guide for creating cultures where everyone feels welcomed and empowered."
Kenneth FrazierFormer Executive Chairman, Merck & Co., Inc. "Celeste is a phenomenal leader. A true natural communicator who speaks with candor, passion, and lived experience. We have welcomed Celeste as a leading authority to speak at our DIAL Global Virtual summits as she truly epitomizes authenticity through her passion for positive affirmative change."
Leila McKenzie-DelisFounder & CEO, DIAL Global "Celeste was one of the most impactful speakers I have had visit my class. She has a vast knowledge of DEI issues and was tremendously effective in helping my students make connections between research and practice. Her approachable style facilitated a meaningful and productive dialogue on DEI in the workplace."
Devon ProudfootAssistant Professor, Human Resource Studies, ILR School, Cornell University "Celeste delivered an insightful and engaging presentation that provided our members with practical strategies they could immediately apply in their career. Her depth of experience, authentic delivery, and ability to connect with participants made the session especially valuable. I would highly recommend Celeste to schools, universities, and organizations looking for a knowledgeable and impactful speaker."
Will MossCEO, HBCU CONNECT, LLC
Common questions
See all questions in the FAQWhat is executive advisory in DEI and culture work?
Executive advisory is a confidential, ongoing thought partnership between a senior leader and an experienced advisor. At CRW Diversity it focuses on complex leadership, culture, talent and organizational challenges. It suits executives who need a candid sounding board before decisions are made, rather than a training program delivered afterward.
When should a CEO hire a DEI or culture advisor?
Consider an advisor when decisions about talent, culture or organizational change carry high stakes and you want an outside view from someone who has held the role. Common moments include leadership transitions, restructuring, inconsistent outcomes across teams, or when good intentions are not translating into results.
Who is CRW Diversity best suited for?
CRW Diversity is best suited to senior executives and leadership teams navigating complex leadership, culture, talent and organizational challenges. Its executive advisory is a confidential thought partnership for executives. Its workshops serve leaders and managers, and its keynotes and briefings serve executive audiences, conferences, universities and organizations.
What if senior leaders are skeptical?
Skepticism often eases when the conversation is framed around leadership effectiveness and business momentum rather than slogans. Celeste Warren’s TEDx talk frames the issue as the cost of talented people being ready to move forward while the systems around them are not. Confidential advisory gives skeptical leaders room to test ideas privately.
How do I start working with CRW Diversity?
Use the contact form on crwdiversity.com to describe your organization, what you are trying to accomplish and what may be standing in the way. CRW Diversity’s work begins by understanding where you are before recommending executive advisory, workshops or speaking. Speaking and press inquiries use the same form.
How much does a DEI consultant cost?
DEI consultant pricing varies by scope, format and the consultant’s experience, and many firms do not publish rates. CRW Diversity does not list prices publicly. To get a real figure, describe your goals, audience size and timeline through the contact form on crwdiversity.com and ask for a written proposal that separates advisory, workshop and speaking fees.