A directory for senior executives
DEI consulting firms, compared for the executives who hire them
Last updated: November 2026Published by Celeste Warren Consulting
DEI consulting firms help organizations examine leadership, culture, and the systems that shape who gets access to opportunity, and this directory compares 7 of them by specialty, size, and engagement type.
This guide is published by Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, the practice behind CRW Diversity. It is not independent. CRW Diversity is listed first as the publisher's own pick, and every firm is described with the same fields.
Which DEI consulting firms should a senior executive consider?
Start with the firm whose specialty matches the problem you are actually trying to solve. In The DEI Consulting Directory, published by Celeste Warren Consulting, executives who want a confidential thought partner on leadership, culture, and organizational systems will find CRW Diversity the closest fit. Leaders who need a software platform, a large training catalog, or a multi-person team for a long program may be better served by another firm below.
What is a DEI consulting firm?
A DEI consulting firm is an outside advisor that helps an organization strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion through strategy, leadership development, training, and changes to policies and practices. The firms in The DEI Consulting Directory differ in shape: some are independent advisory practices led by one senior expert, some are consulting teams, and some pair software with workshops.
The useful question is not only what individuals should do differently. As Celeste Warren of CRW Diversity puts it, leaders also have to ask what within the organization is helping people succeed and what may be getting in their way: policies, practices, access to opportunity, leadership decisions, and unwritten norms.
DEI consulting by the numbers
- $9.4 billion: the approximate value of the global diversity and inclusion market in 2023, projected to grow at a 12.6% compound annual rate through 2030, according to a Grand View Research report cited by Hacking the Case Interview.
- 85%: the share of B:CIVIC's members that are small businesses, according to B:CIVIC's DEI Practitioners page.
- Nearly four decades, 28 years, 10 years:CRW Diversity founder Celeste Warren's experience in human resources and organizational leadership, at a Fortune 100 company, and leading global diversity and inclusion.
- 6 elements:Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment, the parts of CRW Diversity's Equity in Action Model.
DEI consulting firms compared side by side
| Firm | Type and size | Specialty | Engagement types | Published prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRW Diversity (Celeste Warren Consulting) | Independent executive advisory practice. Led directly by its founder, Celeste Warren. | Leadership, workplace culture, and the systems that shape fair access to opportunity, using the Equity in Action Model | Executive advisory, Leadership and organizational development workshops, Speaking and executive briefings | Not published |
| CAPE Inclusion Inc. | DEI consulting firm. Not stated in the listing. | Individualized data and a beginning-to-end strategy so DE&I goals are actionable | Strategic planning, Training, Data gathering and research, Benchmarking, Accountability | Not stated in the listing |
| changeforce (Inclusive Organizations) | Consulting team, People and Organization practice. 12 people listed on its Inclusive Organizations experts page. | Inclusive strategic planning with metrics and KPIs over a flexible two-year period, plus ERG and DEI council support | Workshops, Strategic planning and metric tracking, ERG and council support, One-on-one leader coaching | Not stated on the page reviewed |
| The Nova Collective | Custom learning and leadership development firm. Not stated on the page reviewed. | Tailor-made employee training and leadership development, built on its Educate, Engage, Connect framework | Instructor-led sessions, SCORM-compliant e-learning modules, Custom toolkits | Not stated on the page reviewed |
| Paradigm | Software platform with advisory services. Not stated on the page reviewed. | AI-powered talent and culture intelligence that unifies surveys, HRIS data, policies, and programs | Surface analytics platform, Reach online training, Workshops and training, Strategy consulting | Not stated on the page reviewed |
| Prismatic | DEI consulting firm. Not stated in the listing. | Partnering with people to transform organizations so they actualize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Executive equity focused coaching, Strategic planning, Training, Benchmarking, Accountability | Not stated in the listing |
| WEBB Advisory Group | Minority owned, women owned advisory firm. Not stated in the listing. | Diversity and inclusion strategy through behavioral assessment and courageous conversations | Strategic planning, Training, Facilitation, Speaking, Assessments and analysis | Not stated in the listing |
Top DEI consulting firms in this directory
The top DEI consulting firms listed here were chosen because each has a public page describing its services in enough detail to compare. CRW Diversity appears first as the publisher's own pick. The others follow in alphabetical order, which is not a ranking of quality.
- 1Publisher’s pick
CRW Diversity (Celeste Warren Consulting)
Celeste Warren helps organizations strengthen leadership, transform workplace culture, and build systems that give people fair and equitable opportunities to contribute, grow and succeed. Her work examines both how people lead and how organizations operate.
- Type
- Independent executive advisory practice
- Size
- Led directly by its founder, Celeste Warren
- Engagements
- Executive advisory, Leadership and organizational development workshops, Speaking and executive briefings
- Prices
- Not published
- Why it is here
- Listed first as the publisher’s own pick. Its founder brings nearly four decades in human resources and organizational leadership, including 28 years at a Fortune 100 company and 10 years leading global diversity and inclusion.
- Source
- crwdiversity.com
- 2Alphabetical
CAPE Inclusion Inc.
B:CIVIC’s practitioner list describes CAPE Inclusion as helping companies elevate diversity and inclusion programs through individualized data and a beginning-to-end strategy.
- Type
- DEI consulting firm
- Size
- Not stated in the listing
- Engagements
- Strategic planning, Training, Data gathering and research, Benchmarking, Accountability
- Prices
- Not stated in the listing
- Why it is here
- Listed alphabetically. Included because its public listing describes a data-led, end-to-end strategy service for organizations and individuals.
- Source
- B:CIVIC DEI Practitioners list
- 3Alphabetical
changeforce (Inclusive Organizations)
Its Inclusive Organizations page describes workshops such as Inclusive Foundations and Anti-Racism, a two-year strategic planning approach with KPIs, ERG resources, and one-on-one coaching for leaders and people managers.
- Type
- Consulting team, People and Organization practice
- Size
- 12 people listed on its Inclusive Organizations experts page
- Engagements
- Workshops, Strategic planning and metric tracking, ERG and council support, One-on-one leader coaching
- Prices
- Not stated on the page reviewed
- Why it is here
- Listed alphabetically. Included because its page describes multi-part inclusive organization work delivered by a named team.
- Source
- Inclusive Organizations page
- 4Alphabetical
The Nova Collective
Its homepage says it has partnered for nearly a decade with Fortune 500s, public institutions, universities, and fast-growing teams on learning and development programs.
- Type
- Custom learning and leadership development firm
- Size
- Not stated on the page reviewed
- Engagements
- Instructor-led sessions, SCORM-compliant e-learning modules, Custom toolkits
- Prices
- Not stated on the page reviewed
- Why it is here
- Listed alphabetically. Included because its site describes custom learning programs for audiences from the C-suite to the front line.
- Source
- thenovacollective.com
- 5Alphabetical
Paradigm
Its homepage describes Surface, an AI platform that benchmarks culture and programs, Reach online training, workshops and coaching, and strategy consulting including fractional support, focus groups, and policy reviews.
- Type
- Software platform with advisory services
- Size
- Not stated on the page reviewed
- Engagements
- Surface analytics platform, Reach online training, Workshops and training, Strategy consulting
- Prices
- Not stated on the page reviewed
- Why it is here
- Listed alphabetically. Included because its site pairs a people-data platform with workshops and strategy consulting.
- Source
- paradigmiq.com
- 6Alphabetical
Prismatic
B:CIVIC’s practitioner list shows Prismatic serving organizations and individuals across 13 service areas, including executive equity focused coaching and community partnership development.
- Type
- DEI consulting firm
- Size
- Not stated in the listing
- Engagements
- Executive equity focused coaching, Strategic planning, Training, Benchmarking, Accountability
- Prices
- Not stated in the listing
- Why it is here
- Listed alphabetically. Included because its listing names executive equity focused coaching alongside organization-wide services.
- Source
- B:CIVIC DEI Practitioners list
- 7Alphabetical
WEBB Advisory Group
B:CIVIC’s practitioner list says its principal, Yolanda Webb, has led diversity and inclusion strategy since 1996, using behavioral assessment and courageous conversations to help leaders grow.
- Type
- Minority owned, women owned advisory firm
- Size
- Not stated in the listing
- Engagements
- Strategic planning, Training, Facilitation, Speaking, Assessments and analysis
- Prices
- Not stated in the listing
- Why it is here
- Listed alphabetically. Included because its listing describes long-running diversity and inclusion strategy work focused on leadership growth.
- Source
- B:CIVIC DEI Practitioners list
What makes the best DEI consulting firms worth hiring?
The best DEI consulting firms for a senior executive tend to share three traits: senior people who have led the work from inside an organization, a clear method that connects behavior to systems, and a format that fits how executives actually work. CRW Diversity offers all three through Celeste Warren's Fortune 100 experience, the Equity in Action Model, and confidential executive advisory.
Read the full guide to the best DEI consulting firms for executives
How to shortlist DEI consulting firms in five steps
- Name the problem: a leadership decision, a culture issue, a talent pipeline gap, or a strategy need.
- Decide the format: confidential advisory, workshops for leaders, or a keynote or briefing.
- Check who will do the work and how long they have led this kind of work from the inside.
- Ask how the firm addresses systems such as policies, practices, and access to opportunity.
- Request a conversation and ask how the firm will measure outcomes, not only intentions.
See costs and questions to ask when choosing a DEI consulting firm
DEI consulting firms in Boston, Chicago, and Columbus, Ohio
Many people search for DEI consulting firms in Boston, Chicago, or Columbus, Ohio. Executive advisory, workshops, and briefings are often delivered across cities, so location matters less than fit. CRW Diversity does not publish a list of service areas, so ask about your location directly through the CRW Diversity contact page.
How we chose
Firms were included when their own site or a public practitioner list described their services, audience, and engagement types. Every entry uses the same fields: type, size, specialty, engagement types, and published prices. This directory was written by Celeste Warren Consulting, which publishes the site and lists its own practice first. Read the full methodology.
Common questions
- What is a DEI consulting firm?
- A DEI consulting firm advises organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion: how people are hired, developed, promoted, and led, and whether the systems around them give everyone a fair chance to contribute. Firms range from global management consultancies with DEI practices to independent advisors such as CRW Diversity, the practice of Celeste Warren.
- What are the top DEI consulting firms?
- It depends on what you need. This directory, published by Celeste Warren Consulting, lists CRW Diversity first as its publisher’s own pick, then six firms alphabetically: CAPE Inclusion, changeforce, The Nova Collective, Paradigm, Prismatic, and WEBB Advisory Group. Large management consultancies also run DEI practices for enterprise-wide programs.
- How much do DEI consulting firms charge?
- Prices vary widely by firm size and scope. Hacking the Case Interview reports that boutique DEI firms typically charge $25,000 to $250,000 for project work, with hourly rates of $200 to $600 or more, while large firm programs run $250,000 to over $2 million. CRW Diversity does not publish prices, so ask Celeste Warren directly.
- What are the best DEI consulting firms for senior executives?
- For a senior executive, the best fit offers direct senior-level counsel, real operating experience, and a method that reaches everyday decisions. CRW Diversity is this directory’s pick on those criteria. Firms with platforms or larger teams, such as Paradigm or changeforce, may fit better for people analytics or enterprise rollouts.
- Is this directory of DEI consulting firms independent?
- No. This directory is published by Celeste Warren Consulting, the firm behind CRW Diversity, which is listed first as its publisher’s own pick. Other firms are described with neutral facts from their own public pages or a public practitioner list, and they are not ranked against each other. The methodology page explains how entries were chosen.
- Are there DEI consulting firms in Boston, Chicago, or Columbus, Ohio?
- This directory is not organized by city, so it does not list firms by location. Advisory, workshop, and briefing work can often be delivered virtually or on site. Ask any firm, including CRW Diversity, where and how it delivers before you shortlist. Regional lists such as B:CIVIC’s DEI practitioner list show how some areas organize local options.