Systems Thinker|The Truth About Equity- Shifting from Intention to Action|S7E62 Systems Thinker Show

Systems Thinker|The Truth About Equity- Shifting from Intention to Action|S7E62 Systems Thinker Show

Why Equity is a Leadership Discipline (Not an Initiative): Lessons from a Global DEI Chief In the mid-20th century, the steel mills of Western Pennsylvania were more than employers; they were the heartbeat of an entire ecosystem. As the industry buckled, a stark divergence emerged: the city of Pittsburgh reinvented itself, pivoting toward new industries and future-proofing its economy, while the surrounding small towns stagnated, trapped in the ghost of a legacy system that no longer functioned. For Celeste Warren, a former Fortune 100 executive and global DEI chief, this wasn't just an economic case study—it was her backyard. It was also the backdrop for her father’s career as the first Black teacher and principal in the region. Every evening at the dinner table, Warren received a masterclass in systemic friction. She listened to her father describe the daily exhaustion of being a pioneer in a system not built for him. These stories became the catalyst for a radical leadership philosophy: Equity is not a "nice-to-have" moral outreach project. It is a pragmatic leadership discipline—the corporate equivalent of Pittsburgh’s reinvention—required for survival in a global, multi-generational market. Guest Information: Today’s special guest is Celeste Warren, Founder @ Celeste Warren Consulting LLC.  Please follow Celeste at http://www.CRWdiversity.com [http://www.CRWdiversity.com].  At Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, we are dedicated to fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting fair practices across industries, both public and private, and including universities and firms. Founded by Celeste Warren, a distinguished leader in the field of diversity and inclusion, our consulting firm leverages over three decades of experience in human resources and organizational development to transform corporate cultures. Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW [https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ [https://a.co/d/] 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb [https://a.co/d/40yArAb]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 3 https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S [https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S] Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com [https://crunchtimewv.com] “Sponsored by LinkedIn—the professional community for building your network and accessing new opportunities. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson.” “Curious about alternative investing and venture capital exposure without the traditional gatekeepers? Visit fundrise.com/VCX and see how Venture investing can work for you.” (Fundrise [https://fundrise.com/vcx?utm_source=chatgpt.com])  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403] https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29] Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com [https://karassinnovations.substack.com] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social] YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu] #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

Systems Thinker|The Truth About Equity- Shifting from Intention to Action|S7E62 Systems Thinker Show

Why Equity is a Leadership Discipline (Not an Initiative): Lessons from a Global DEI Chief In the mid-20th century, the steel mills of Western Pennsylvania were more than employers; they were the heartbeat of an entire ecosystem. As the industry buckled, a stark divergence emerged: the city of Pittsburgh reinvented itself, pivoting toward new industries and future-proofing its economy, while the surrounding small towns stagnated, trapped in the ghost of a legacy system that no longer functioned. For Celeste Warren, a former Fortune 100 executive and global DEI chief, this wasn't just an economic case study—it was her backyard. It was also the backdrop for her father’s career as the first Black teacher and principal in the region. Every evening at the dinner table, Warren received a masterclass in systemic friction. She listened to her father describe the daily exhaustion of being a pioneer in a system not built for him. These stories became the catalyst for a radical leadership philosophy: Equity is not a "nice-to-have" moral outreach project. It is a pragmatic leadership discipline—the corporate equivalent of Pittsburgh’s reinvention—required for survival in a global, multi-generational market. Guest Information: Today’s special guest is Celeste Warren, Founder @ Celeste Warren Consulting LLC.  Please follow Celeste at http://www.CRWdiversity.com [http://www.CRWdiversity.com].  At Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, we are dedicated to fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting fair practices across industries, both public and private, and including universities and firms. Founded by Celeste Warren, a distinguished leader in the field of diversity and inclusion, our consulting firm leverages over three decades of experience in human resources and organizational development to transform corporate cultures. Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW [https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ [https://a.co/d/] 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb [https://a.co/d/40yArAb]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 3 https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S [https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S] Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com [https://crunchtimewv.com] “Sponsored by LinkedIn—the professional community for building your network and accessing new opportunities. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson.” “Curious about alternative investing and venture capital exposure without the traditional gatekeepers? Visit fundrise.com/VCX and see how Venture investing can work for you.” (Fundrise [https://fundrise.com/vcx?utm_source=chatgpt.com])  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403] https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29] Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com [https://karassinnovations.substack.com] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social] YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu] #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

System Thinker | Securing Data Through Decentralized Storage|S7E61 The System Thinker Show

Why the "Cloud" is More Fragile Than You Think: 5 Shifts Redefining Data in the AI AgeThe Architecture of Overconfidence We navigate our digital lives with an unearned sense of security. We assume our banking apps will sync, our schools will remain online, and our remote work hubs will be waiting for us at 9:00 AM. But as any "System Thinker" will tell you, this seamless experience is an illusion maintained by an alarmingly narrow foundation. The urgency of this fragility cannot be overstated. In the last five years alone, humanity has generated more data than in the previous twenty years combined. This explosion—driven by AI training, IoT, and edge devices—is being funneled into an aging, centralized infrastructure that was never designed to handle this level of volume or volatility. We aren’t just building on a narrow foundation; we are building a skyscraper on a toothpick. Guest Information: Today’s special guest is Murphy John, Chief Growth Officer @ StorX Network.  Please follow Murphy at http://storx.io [http://storx.io]. Murphy’s mission, “StorX Networks is on a mission to provide users with the most privacy focused storage and backup service.” Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW [https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ [https://a.co/d/] 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb [https://a.co/d/40yArAb]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 3 https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S [https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S] Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com [https://crunchtimewv.com] “Sponsored by LinkedIn—the professional community for building your network and accessing new opportunities. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson.” “Curious about alternative investing and venture capital exposure without the traditional gatekeepers? Visit fundrise.com/VCX and see how Venture investing can work for you.” (Fundrise [https://fundrise.com/vcx?utm_source=chatgpt.com])  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403] https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29] Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com [https://karassinnovations.substack.com] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social] YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu] #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

System Thinker | Securing Data Through Decentralized Storage|S7E61 The System Thinker Show

Why the "Cloud" is More Fragile Than You Think: 5 Shifts Redefining Data in the AI AgeThe Architecture of Overconfidence We navigate our digital lives with an unearned sense of security. We assume our banking apps will sync, our schools will remain online, and our remote work hubs will be waiting for us at 9:00 AM. But as any "System Thinker" will tell you, this seamless experience is an illusion maintained by an alarmingly narrow foundation. The urgency of this fragility cannot be overstated. In the last five years alone, humanity has generated more data than in the previous twenty years combined. This explosion—driven by AI training, IoT, and edge devices—is being funneled into an aging, centralized infrastructure that was never designed to handle this level of volume or volatility. We aren’t just building on a narrow foundation; we are building a skyscraper on a toothpick. Guest Information: Today’s special guest is Murphy John, Chief Growth Officer @ StorX Network.  Please follow Murphy at http://storx.io [http://storx.io]. Murphy’s mission, “StorX Networks is on a mission to provide users with the most privacy focused storage and backup service.” Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW [https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ [https://a.co/d/] 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb [https://a.co/d/40yArAb]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 3 https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S [https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S] Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com [https://crunchtimewv.com] “Sponsored by LinkedIn—the professional community for building your network and accessing new opportunities. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson.” “Curious about alternative investing and venture capital exposure without the traditional gatekeepers? Visit fundrise.com/VCX and see how Venture investing can work for you.” (Fundrise [https://fundrise.com/vcx?utm_source=chatgpt.com])  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403] https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29] Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com [https://karassinnovations.substack.com] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social] YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu] #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner

System Thinkers| From Pitbull to Peacemaker- The Art of Conflict Resolution|S7E60 Systems Thinker Show

The High Cost of Victory: Transforming Conflict into Strategic Opportunity 1. Introduction: The Exhaustion of the Scorched-Earth DefaultI spent years as a "pitbull" trial attorney, operating under the assumption that professional success required "eating my young" and enjoying it. But after five years on the bench as a judge, I had a sobering epiphany: the adversarial system—the very one we mirror in our boardrooms and corporate disputes—is rarely pretty, and it is almost never efficient.The cost of "winning" through these scorched-earth tactics is staggering. Even the so-called victors walk away drained, having spent immense financial resources and emotional capital spinning in controversy for years. This is not how evolution works; it is how relationships die. True leadership requires moving away from the default adversarial mindset and toward a faster, more informal, and infinitely more effective way to resolve human friction. Guest Information: Today’s special guest is Sam Imperati, Executive Director @ ICMresolutions.  Please follow Sam at http://www.icmresolutions.com [http://www.icmresolutions.com].  Sam’s mission, “Helping companies and organizations resolve conflicts and make better decisions with time-tested, practical tools for success.” Resources: The Continuous Improvement Lab: https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] Books: Shift Happens - How To Lead with Purpose and Discipline Every Day: https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW [https://a.co/d/0JZ8auW]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 1: https://a.co/d/ [https://a.co/d/] 7v5fy4f; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 2: https://a.co/d/40yArAb [https://a.co/d/40yArAb]; Culture by Design, Power by Discipline- Volume 3 https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S [https://a.co/d/0iIPje2S] Sponsored by Crunch Time Gourmet Popcorn & Apples (Bridgeport, WV): gourmet popcorn + caramel apples made with small-batch homemade caramel. Shop:  https://crunchtimewv.com [https://crunchtimewv.com] “Sponsored by LinkedIn—the professional community for building your network and accessing new opportunities. (LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson.” “Curious about alternative investing and venture capital exposure without the traditional gatekeepers? Visit fundrise.com/VCX and see how Venture investing can work for you.” (Fundrise [https://fundrise.com/vcx?utm_source=chatgpt.com])  Subscribe for more insights:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403 [https://open.spotify.com/show/6MqoJ1aZM1VA5cgeWvjlnX?si=86901c0534b14403] https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3YqjoH6AZg7AdDYHyCwDY0?si=ecc12289b5e84f29] Connect with Us: Website: https://www.karassinnovations.com [https://www.karassinnovations.com/blog] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lenierjohnson Meta:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1AZorbNg72/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Substack: https://karassinnovations.substack.com [https://karassinnovations.substack.com] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karassinnovations.bsky.social] YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm1_im2u-gpFsTARP71ec11C2Z8xbEGV&si=4e6_5rdfoQIiT1Gu] #ContinuousImprovement,#Podcast,#ProcessExcellence,#Leadership,#Lean,#SixSigma,#TheContinuousImprovementLab,#TheSystemThinkerShow,#MOS #Management Operating Systems,#Project2025,#Sludge,#scottgalloway,#karaswisher,#AnthonyScaramucci,#McKinsey, #Gallup, #Deloitte, #StevenBartlett,#petersenge,#KurtLewin,#JohnKotter, #RosabethMossKanter,#DarylConner