01
Awareness
Understand how assumptions, experiences, and organizational patterns influence decisions.
Ch. 04Framework explainer
The Equity in Action Model
Last updated: November 2026
What is the Equity in Action Model?
The Equity in Action Model is Celeste Warren's six-element framework for putting equity into everyday leadership decisions.
Its elements are Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment. It gives leaders a practical way to examine how their decisions, behaviors, and organizational systems shape the experiences and opportunities of the people they lead.
Route map
Six elements, one route
- 01AwarenessUnderstand how assumptions, experiences, and organizational patterns influence decisions.
- 02AccessExamine who has access to information, opportunities, relationships, and resources.
- 03AdvocacyUse your influence to ensure talent, ideas, and perspectives aren't overlooked.
- 04ActionTurn awareness and good intentions into deliberate leadership decisions.
- 05AccountabilityLook beyond intentions and pay attention to outcomes.
- 06EmpowermentCreate the conditions for people to contribute, grow, and use their voices.
Field notes
What each element asks of a leader
02
Access
Examine who has access to information, opportunities, relationships, and resources.
03
Advocacy
Use your influence to ensure talent, ideas, and perspectives aren't overlooked.
04
Action
Turn awareness and good intentions into deliberate leadership decisions.
05
Accountability
Look beyond intentions and pay attention to outcomes.
06
Empowerment
Create the conditions for people to contribute, grow, and use their voices.
Why it matters
From good intentions to everyday leadership practice
Equity doesn't become real simply because an organization believes in it. It becomes real through the decisions leaders make every day. That is the premise of the model, and it is why Celeste Warren uses it in keynotes, executive briefings, and workshops rather than offering a list of values.
For a self-guided start, CRW Diversity offers a free guide, 6 Practical Ways to Lead More Fairly, Intentionally and Effectively, with key insights, reflection questions, and simple next steps for each element, on crwdiversity.com. Managers who want to go deeper can explore Equity in Action for Managers, short mini-modules designed for busy leaders.
See how the model shows up on stage on the keynote speaker on equity overview.
Quick answers
All 50 questions in the FAQ- What is the Equity in Action Model?
- The Equity in Action Model is Celeste Warren's practical framework for putting equity into everyday leadership decisions. It has six elements: Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment. Each one asks leaders to examine how their decisions, behaviors, and organizational systems shape the experiences and opportunities of the people they lead.
- Is there a free guide to the Equity in Action Model?
- Yes. Celeste Warren offers a free guide called 6 Practical Ways to Lead More Fairly, Intentionally and Effectively, available from crwdiversity.com. It gives key insights, reflection questions, and simple next steps for each of the six elements: Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment.
- What is Equity in Action for Managers?
- Equity in Action for Managers is a practical learning experience of mini-modules that helps managers recognize where equity shows up in their day-to-day leadership and gives them tools they can put into practice immediately. It is described as short, practical, and designed for busy leaders.
- What are examples of DEI in the workplace?
- Examples include reviewing who gets access to information, stretch assignments, and sponsors; checking promotion and pay outcomes, not just intentions; and making sure ideas from every part of a team are heard. These map to the Equity in Action Model's elements of Access, Accountability, and Advocacy, which Celeste Warren uses to make equity concrete.
- Does Celeste Warren offer inclusive leadership training?
- Yes. CRW Diversity offers practical workshops and learning experiences that help leaders strengthen their effectiveness, improve workplace culture, and put fair and inclusive leadership practices into action. Equity in Action for Managers is a short, practical program of mini-modules designed for busy leaders.
Bring the model to your leaders
Ask about a keynote, executive briefing, or workshop built on the Equity in Action Model.