Voice & Velocity: Elevating Recruiter Impact on Inclusive Hiring

Watch the Recording: Celeste Warren Shares Strategies for Elevating Recruiter Impact in Hiring

Thank you to everyone who joined HBCU CONNECT for our July 29 Lunch & Learn, “Voice & Velocity: Elevating Recruiter Impact on Inclusive Hiring,” featuring respected HR executive, author, TEDx speaker, and consultant Celeste R. Warren.

For those who attended, we hope the discussion provided practical ideas you can immediately apply within your organization. For those who registered but were unable to join us live, we are pleased to make the full session recording available below.

Recruiters are frequently expected to lead the hiring process, yet they may not always have the authority or influence needed to challenge assumptions, broaden candidate consideration, or successfully navigate difficult conversations with hiring managers.

During this timely session, Celeste shared practical approaches for helping recruiters become more effective advisors and advocates throughout the hiring process.

A central focus of the discussion was Celeste’s C.A.L.M. Influence Framework, a structured approach for navigating high-stakes hiring conversations while keeping the discussion productive and focused on better outcomes.

Key Themes From the Session

Participants learned strategies for:

• Responding constructively when a qualified candidate is dismissed because of an unclear “culture fit” concern
• Identifying and addressing potential bias without immediately putting hiring managers on the defensive
• Moving challenging conversations forward rather than allowing them to stall or escalate
• Strengthening the recruiter’s role as a trusted advisor and strategic partner
• Using practical language and conversation techniques to advocate for a broader range of qualified candidates
• Creating hiring processes that produce fairer, more thoughtful, and more effective decisions

The session also reinforced an important point: recruiters do more than source candidates and coordinate interviews. They can play a meaningful role in shaping how talent is evaluated, how decisions are made, and whether organizations are truly considering the strongest available candidates.

Celeste brought decades of leadership experience to the conversation, including 28 years with Merck and a decade leading the company’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence. Her experience offered participants a valuable combination of executive perspective and practical, real-world guidance.

Thank you again to Celeste Warren for sharing her experience and insights, and to everyone who participated in the conversation.

Stay connected with HBCU CONNECT for additional Lunch & Learn sessions, employer resources, recruitment strategies, and opportunities to engage with our community of more than 1.5 million professionals, graduates, and students.

Watch the Lunch & Learn Recording