NAPA VALLEY, CA — In the heart of California’s wine country, where rolling vineyards meet a legacy of craftsmanship and care, Celeste White has emerged as a leading voice for purpose-driven leadership. Her career spans multiple industries—from wellness and agriculture to healthcare and philanthropy—but what truly distinguishes her is her ability to unite innovation with service. Across every venture, Celeste ensures her work uplifts not only markets but also the communities and people behind them.
Elevating Leadership Through Gratitude and Connection
As President and Chair of Lux Forum, Celeste founded the organization to reimagine what leadership looks like in an era that often values speed over substance. Lux Forum is more than a traditional conference series—it’s a platform for reflection and renewal. Its gatherings are known for creating space where gratitude, collaboration, and vision intersect, sparking ideas that ripple outward into lasting social impact.
Each event brings together executives, innovators, and community builders from a variety of fields, but the true hallmark of Lux Forum lies in its tone. The conversations Celeste curates are thoughtful, intimate, and grounded in shared purpose. Participants are encouraged not only to exchange ideas but to reconnect with the “why” behind their work—to rediscover meaning in the midst of momentum.
“When leaders gather with humility and gratitude,” Celeste explains, “they don’t just share strategies—they shape culture. That’s where transformation begins.”
Under her leadership, Lux Forum has grown into one of Napa Valley’s most respected thought-leadership communities, a model for how dialogue and collaboration can move from inspiration to tangible change.
Building a Legacy Through Horse Rock Olive Oil
Celeste’s entrepreneurial story is equally rooted in the land that shaped her values. As CEO of Horse Rock Olive Oil, she leads an estate-grown, premium brand cultivated on her family’s ranch in St. Helena. The business reflects both heritage and innovation—an intergenerational story of stewardship transformed into a model of sustainable, high-quality production.
Horse Rock Olive Oil embodies more than taste or tradition; it represents a philosophy. Every harvest, every bottle, tells a story of gratitude—to the soil, to the craft, and to the people who keep Napa Valley’s agricultural legacy alive.
“Farming teaches you patience and perspective,” Celeste says. “It’s about working with nature, not against it—listening, caring, and letting growth happen in its own time.”
Her leadership at Horse Rock Olive Oil bridges the past and the future—preserving her family’s agricultural roots while integrating sustainability practices that ensure the land thrives for generations to come. The result is a business that embodies her belief that wellness, authenticity, and environmental responsibility are inseparable.
Compassionate Innovation in Healthcare
Celeste’s entrepreneurial reach extends beyond the vineyards and olive groves. In healthcare, she has co-founded two ventures—Stitches Medical and WearTootles.com—that bring her philosophy of compassionate, people-centered innovation to life.
Both ventures share a singular goal: to improve lives through thoughtful design and care. Stitches Medical focuses on enhancing patient experiences through comfort-driven solutions, while WearTootles.com explores wearable technology that supports health, independence, and wellness.
For Celeste, innovation is not about disruption for its own sake—it’s about empathy. “The best solutions are born from listening,” she notes. “When we understand what people truly need, we can create technology that restores dignity and joy.”
Through these healthcare ventures, she continues to demonstrate how entrepreneurship can address complex human challenges with creativity, compassion, and purpose.
A Lifelong Dedication to Service and Mentorship
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Celeste White’s greatest passion lies in giving back. A graduate and trustee of Westmont College, she has devoted decades to advancing education, youth mentorship, and faith-based initiatives across Northern California. Her leadership style is grounded in humility and heart—qualities that have guided her service on numerous nonprofit boards and community programs.
She has championed organizations such as The Salvation Army, Hospice, and Ag 4 Youth, and has inspired young people through her work with the U.S. Pony Club, where she mentors equestrians in discipline, grace, and perseverance.
Her efforts were formally recognized when she and her husband, Dr. Robert White, received The Salvation Army’s Nehemiah Award, honoring their enduring commitment to leadership and service. The award symbolizes what has defined her life and career: a dedication to faith, generosity, and the quiet, consistent work of building stronger communities.
“Service reminds us of what truly matters,” she says. “Success has meaning only when it lifts others.”
Rooted in Faith, Family, and the Napa Valley Way of Life
Despite her far-reaching influence, Celeste remains firmly grounded in the rhythms of daily life on her family’s St. Helena ranch. There, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and horses, she finds the balance and renewal that fuel her creativity.
Her love for equestrian life mirrors the qualities that define her leadership—discipline, trust, and harmony. “When you ride, you learn to lead with calm strength,” she reflects. “It’s not about control—it’s about connection. That’s true in both horsemanship and leadership.”
Faith continues to anchor her journey, shaping both her worldview and her leadership philosophy. For Celeste, faith is not separate from work—it is the foundation that informs every decision, guiding her toward purpose, resilience, and gratitude.
A Legacy of Purpose and Possibility
As Napa Valley continues to evolve, Celeste White stands as a bridge between its rich traditions and its vibrant, forward-looking future. Her ventures—Lux Forum, Horse Rock Olive Oil, Stitches Medical, and WearTootles.com—reflect a life devoted to aligning progress with purpose.
Through her work, Celeste embodies a new kind of leadership—one that values both achievement and authenticity, innovation and empathy. Her story is a reminder that success, at its best, is measured not by accolades but by the lives touched and the communities strengthened along the way.
In every arena—whether hosting a forum, cultivating her ranch, mentoring a student, or building a business—Celeste White continues to lead with grace, gratitude, and conviction. Her life in Napa Valley serves as a living example of what can happen when purpose drives innovation, and when leadership is rooted not only in vision, but in heart.
