EP 15: She Shaped Apple’s Culture — Now She Coaches Leaders

“The worst you will get is a no.” – Shirleena CelestineOn this episode of The Vanessa Podcast — the weekly show where we talk business, culture, and the real stories behind extraordinary people building their own lanes; I sit down with Shirleena Celestine, Executive Coach and Organizational Culture Strategist.Shirleena's work helps leaders bring human connection into the workplace. Before launching her consultancy, she spent nearly a decade at Apple, where she drove inclusive product and culture strategies for Apple Music, Podcasts, Beats by Dre, Shazam, and Platoon — collaborating with influential figures like Blair Underwood and Savannah James.About Shirleena Celestine:Shirleena is an Executive Coach, Speaker, and Organizational Culture Strategist. With a PhD in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion — the first of its kind globally and almost ten years at Apple, she now helps leaders and organisations transform culture, inclusion, and impact.In This Conversation, We Discuss:Growing up in Sheffield and the early lessons that shaped her valuesDiscovering her dyslexia and reframing education on her own termsBecoming the first in her family to graduateThe power of volunteering and building community inside AppleLeading groundbreaking programs like Beats Academy and The She ConversationMoving from the UK to California and the lessons in adapting to new culturesKnowing when to leave: the courage to exit a role at the right timeWhy she believes human connection is the foundation of modern leadershipHer leap into executive coaching and building her own practiceWhat leaders need to hear in 2025 about resilience, inclusion, and authenticityThis is a conversation about resilience, leadership, and daring to put humanity at the centre of how we lead.🔔 Subscribe now and never miss an episode!🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.📱 Follow us on Instagram: @thevanessapodcast📱 Follow Vanessa: @vanessasanyauke (Instagram & TikTok)📱 Connect with Shirleena on Linkedin: Shirleena Celestine