About

Our Mission

We will improve DEI awareness and communication throughout our customers’ organizations.

We will provide training for a growing community of facilitators who can also perform this work.

Our paid work also enables us to serve to nonprofits with the same needs but less budget to address them.

Our Objectives

Deliver custom programs & training sessions to management and employees.

Sustain momentum by remaining engaged with leadership. Encourage progress, help with concerns & measure improvement.

Train people to become DEI change facilitators in their workplaces. Moderate discussions focused on problem-solving.

Create and regularly update videos, worksheets & downloadable information for our community.

Our Impact

In 2023 to date, Headway has donated 25% of our services by dollar value to nonprofits and as scholarships for individuals.

Our Founder

A photo of author, speaker & journalist Celeste Headlee. She is laughing.

President & Lead Trainer
Celeste Headlee

Our founder, Celeste Headlee, is Headway’s lead trainer and president. Celeste is an expert in communication whose publications include We Need to Talk, which is used as a textbook in university communications programs, and Speaking of Race, released in the fall of 2021. Her TEDx talk on conversation has more than 36 million views.

An award-winning journalist and 22-year veteran of NPR, PRI and PBS, Celeste has been a leader in the area of diversity and inclusion for more than a decade.

Our Team

Director of Communications
Alexis L. Richardson

Alexis harnesses 20+ years of journalistic, multimedia and instructional expertise to transform publications and guide organizations toward greater reach & conversion. Her editorial prowess is underscored by global experience in cross-cultural environments; differentiated, mindfulness-based instruction; and data-driven trend analysis. She also leads the Level 1 DEIB Facilitator Training course and works as a content strategist and audience engagement consultant.

Executive Director
Mike Canino

Mike is a management consultant and project manager whose career includes work on Wall Street and in the aerospace, technology and government contracting sectors. Besides advocating for equal workplace visibility and inclusivity, he supports environmental and veterans’ health causes. A frequent cross-country and international traveler, Mike holds an MBA from Cornell as well as an MA in East Asian Studies.

Board of Advisors

Headway Training is honored to be guided by a Board of Advisors who meet twice annually to assess and discuss our progress and impact.