NAPA VALLEY, CA — Few leaders embody the balance of entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and community as seamlessly as Celeste White. Based in St. Helena, Celeste has built a reputation as a visionary whose work spans business, wellness, and civic engagement—all rooted in a foundation of purpose and gratitude. Her story is one of harmony between innovation and tradition, demonstrating how leadership guided by faith and service can shape both industry and community.
Cultivating Thought Leadership with Lux Forum
At the center of Celeste’s leadership is Lux Forum, the thought-leadership organization she founded and now chairs. Designed to inspire reflection and collaboration, Lux Forum convenes leaders from diverse sectors to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange ideas that transcend traditional boundaries. Each event serves as a catalyst for transformation—fostering conversations that often evolve into initiatives with lasting social impact.
“Gratitude and community are at the heart of what we do,” Celeste explains. “Real innovation happens when people come together to serve something larger than themselves.”
Under her guidance, Lux Forum has become more than a platform—it’s a living network of change-makers dedicated to purpose-driven leadership. The gatherings blend intellectual rigor with emotional connection, creating an atmosphere that encourages authenticity and collaboration. Participants leave not only with insights but with renewed inspiration to lead with empathy and gratitude.
Celeste’s approach reflects her belief that leadership is most powerful when it unites. Lux Forum serves as a bridge between the entrepreneurial spirit of Napa Valley and the global movement toward more conscious, connected business practices.
Rooted in the Land: The Story of Horse Rock Olive Oil
Beyond the conference table, Celeste’s entrepreneurial spirit finds expression in the rolling hills of her family’s St. Helena ranch. As CEO of Horse Rock Olive Oil, she continues a legacy that blends heritage, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
The company produces estate-grown, artisanal olive oil, reflecting the same care and precision that defines Celeste’s leadership philosophy. Every bottle tells a story of stewardship—of honoring the land, embracing sustainable practices, and celebrating the agricultural traditions that have long defined Napa Valley.
Through Horse Rock, Celeste has cultivated more than a brand; she has built a symbol of mindful living. The business promotes wellness through natural, wholesome products while underscoring the importance of environmental responsibility. “The land is our greatest teacher,” Celeste says. “When we care for it with intention, it returns that care in abundance.”
This harmony between nature and enterprise is at the core of Celeste’s work. By merging her family’s heritage with a modern commitment to sustainability, she illustrates how business can be both profitable and purposeful—serving people, planet, and prosperity in equal measure.
Compassion Meets Innovation: Transforming Healthcare
Celeste’s vision also extends into healthcare, where she has co-founded two ventures that blend innovation with compassion—Stitches Medical and WearTootles.com. Both companies embody her belief that entrepreneurship should improve lives, not just markets.
Stitches Medical is dedicated to designing medical products that enhance patient comfort and dignity, while WearTootles.com explores wearable technology that supports health and wellness. In both cases, Celeste’s focus remains clear: using innovation as a tool for empathy.
Her leadership in healthcare demonstrates that progress and compassion need not exist in opposition. “True innovation begins with listening,” she often says, “listening to what people need, and finding creative ways to meet those needs with care and integrity.”
This human-centered approach has become a hallmark of her work, setting an example for how modern entrepreneurship can operate with heart as well as strategy.
A Legacy of Service and Mentorship
While Celeste’s ventures span multiple industries, her deepest impact may lie in her lifelong commitment to service. A graduate and trustee of Westmont College, she has spent decades mentoring young leaders and supporting initiatives that foster education, character, and community resilience.
Her service on nonprofit boards throughout Northern California reflects a philosophy of leadership rooted in faith and generosity. Whether guiding youth through the U.S. Pony Club, supporting families through Hospice, or championing causes such as The Salvation Army and Ag 4 Youth, Celeste consistently invests her time and talents in lifting others.
Her dedication has earned wide recognition. Alongside her husband, Dr. Robert White, Celeste was honored with The Salvation Army’s Nehemiah Award, which celebrates exemplary community service and leadership. The award underscores what those who know her already understand—Celeste leads with both vision and heart, embodying the belief that the measure of a life is found not in accolades but in the lives touched along the way.
Grounded in Faith, Family, and the Napa Valley Way of Life
Despite her extensive commitments, Celeste remains deeply connected to the rhythms of ranch life. The rolling vineyards, olive groves, and open skies of St. Helena continue to ground her work and nurture her creativity.
Her passion for equestrian life offers a metaphor for her leadership: a balance of strength and grace, control and trust. Just as riding requires partnership between horse and rider, Celeste’s approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration and mutual respect. “Great leadership, like great horsemanship, is about listening and balance,” she notes. “It’s about being attuned to the moment, but always aware of where you’re going.”
Faith is another constant thread woven through her life. It shapes her values, guides her decisions, and sustains her sense of purpose. Through faith, she finds clarity in the complexity of leadership and meaning in the pursuit of progress.
Leading with Gratitude and Vision
As Napa Valley continues to evolve, Celeste White stands as a bridge between its historic roots and its innovative future. Her career exemplifies how entrepreneurship, when infused with gratitude and guided by purpose, can create lasting social value.
Through Lux Forum, Horse Rock Olive Oil, her healthcare ventures, and her decades of philanthropy, Celeste continues to model a new paradigm of leadership—one grounded in compassion, creativity, and community.
Her journey serves as a reminder that the most powerful leaders are those who not only achieve but also uplift—those who build not just businesses, but legacies of kindness and connection.
In every field she touches, from wellness to innovation to community service, Celeste White proves that leadership rooted in gratitude has the power to transform lives—and to illuminate what’s possible when purpose and vision move together in harmony.