Time To Press Pause - Real-Life Stories from the C-Suite

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when the business you built suddenly forces you to stop?In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams sits down with entrepreneur and agency founder Adam Hamadache to explore how an unexpected pause during COVID completely changed the way he approached leadership, business systems, and sustainable growth.At the time, Adam’s company was thriving. Revenue was growing, the team was expanding, and everything looked successful from the outside.But underneath the surface, the business was operating in constant reaction mode.Then the world paused.What started as a short trip to Australia with his family quickly turned into a five-month lockdown experience that forced Adam to step back and see his business  and himself differently.This conversation dives into:• leadership presence under pressure• reactive vs intentional leadership• why so many leaders stay trapped in constant firefighting• the hidden cost of “we’ll figure it out”• operational clarity and sustainable leadership• cognitive fatigue and decision overload• how systems create freedom instead of restriction• why pressing pause can become a strategic advantageAdam also shares how implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) transformed the way his company handled growth, communication, accountability, and problem-solving.More importantly, this episode explores something deeper:How leaders can create success without losing presence, clarity, or themselves in the process.Because productivity without peace is not success.If you’re a founder, executive, entrepreneur, or leader trying to balance growth with intentional leadership, this episode will resonate deeply.Key Themes:Leadership Presence • Strategic Pause • Sustainable Leadership • Executive Clarity • Intentional Leadership • Business Systems • Cognitive Fatigue • Creating Time • Decision Fatigue • Leadership GrowthConnect with Adam Hamadache:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhamadache/Website: https://thisisformula.com/Connect with Ellen Williams:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/Website: https://thesalientstrategist.com/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Time-Ellen-Williams/dp/1637778481/Subscribe to Time to Press Pause for more real conversations about leadership, growth, presence, and creating time for what matters most.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen sits down with Thomas Cox, founder of Cox Capital, investor, and former college football coach, to talk about one of the hardest decisions leaders face: 👉 When growth starts costing you your life. Thomas shares two pivotal “press pause” moments that changed everything:  Walking away from a 75-hour work lifestyle  Hiring before he was financially ready  Choosing family presence over short-term profit And here’s the truth most people won’t say out loud:Sometimes growing your business means making less money first. This episode is about: Why hiring is the hardest (and most necessary) leadership move  The real cost of not delegating  How to know when it’s time to step back  Why you shouldn’t be the smartest person in the room  And what actually matters when you zoom out If you’ve been stuck doing everything yourself…or questioning whether it’s “worth it”… This conversation will hit. 🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: What do you need to press pause on ? 

Send us Fan Mail What happens when everything that’s worked your entire career… suddenly stops working? In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen sits down with Nicole Donnelly, co-founder of Cardinal Search Partners, to unpack a deeply human and vulnerable moment in her career, when success stalled, confidence wavered, and nothing seemed to move forward. After nearly two decades of success in legal recruiting, Nicole found herself in unfamiliar territory: stuck, uncertain, and questioning everything. Instead of pushing harder in the same direction, she did something most high-performers avoid, she paused. What followed was a powerful shift:  From autopilot → intentional action  From comparison → self-awareness  From comfort → growth through discomfort Nicole shares how leaning into discomfort, building her personal brand, and changing her daily actions helped her rebuild momentum and become a stronger leader in the process. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in sales, leadership, or high-performance roles who feels stuck despite doing “everything right.” What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why success can suddenly stop working (even after years of results)  The difference between a forced pause and a conscious pause  How comparison kills momentum and how to break free from it  Practical ways to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable”  How LinkedIn and personal branding can reignite growth  Why vulnerability makes you a stronger leader Key Takeaways: “What worked before won’t always work next.”  Growth often starts where comfort ends  Comparison is one of the biggest blockers to progress  Small daily shifts can completely change your trajectory  Connect & Learn More:Guest:Nicole Donnelly: Company: https://www.cardinalsp.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleldonnelly/Host:Ellen WilliamsLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Time-Ellen-Williams/dp/1637778481/ If this episode resonated with you: Follow the show, share it with someone who needs a reset, and take a moment to reflect, where in your life is it time to press pause? 

Send us Fan MailEntrepreneur Shane Barker built a fast-growing company with 130 employees and a $25M valuation in just two years. But behind the success was a dangerous reality. He was working 18-20 hour days, living on coffee and energy drinks, missing his son’s baseball games, and slowly pushing his health to the edge. Then came the realization that changed everything. In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Shane shares the moment he understood that success without boundaries can cost you everything, your health, your relationships, and your presence in the moments that matter most. Today, Shane leads a smaller team, protects his energy, and lives by a different philosophy of leadership. A powerful conversation about ambition, burnout, delegation, and redefining what success actually means.We talked about:The hidden cost of entrepreneurial hustle cultureWhy working 18–20 hours a day nearly broke himThe moment Shane realized he was on track for a heart attackWhy delegation is one of the most important leadership skillsThe difference between work-life balance and life harmonyWhy most entrepreneurs ignore the signals their body sendsHow COVID reinforced the importance of being presentBuilding a lean company without sacrificing personal life  This conversation is a powerful reminder for entrepreneurs, leaders, and founders chasing growth at any cost. 🌐 Shane Barker https://tracefuse.ai 📘 Ellen Williams https://thesalientstrategist.com 📖 Ellen’s Book – Creating Time: The Key to Productivity and Peace Available on major online bookstores. 

Send us Fan Mail In Season 3, Episode 12 of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams sits down with Cory Dunham to explore what it truly means to disconnect in a world that never stops. Cory introduces the concept of a “Digital Sabbath”  a deliberate 24-hour period without screens, notifications, or digital noise. But this conversation goes far beyond productivity hacks. It’s about attention.It’s about presence.It’s about reclaiming humanity from the algorithms that compete for it. Together, they discuss: • Why leaders struggle to disconnect• The anxiety that surfaces when we put the phone away• How constant interruption erodes deep focus and meaningful relationships• The difference between being informed and being consumed• A simple starting point: the “Phone-Free First Hour” Pressing pause isn’t about escaping the world.It’s about returning to it, fully present. 

Send us Fan Mail What happens when something you believed would succeed… doesn’t ? In this episode of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams is joined by Jon Sheldon, founder of Bellewood Coaching, who shares a humbling and deeply honest press pause story about accountability, ego, and misalignment. After years of success in real estate investing, Jon made a decision that looked right on paper, but slowly became unsustainable in real life. What followed was a difficult realization: the problem wasn’t the market, the property, or the people involved. The problem was his lack of focus and accountability. This conversation explores what it really means to take ownership, not just of success, but of failure and how pressing pause can help realign your time, attention, and intention. In this episode, you’ll hear: How ego can quietly drive misaligned decisionsWhy vision without accountability eventually breaks downThe cost of assuming past success guarantees future resultsHow to recognize when something no longer supports your lifeWhy pressing pause is sometimes the most responsible leadership moveThis episode is a powerful reminder that real growth begins when we stop deflecting and start owning the truth.  🔗 Learn more about Jon Sheldon and Bellewood Coaching:👉 https://www.belleauwood.coach/ 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-sheldon-82760a51/  🔗 Learn more about Ellen Williams:📘 Ellen Williams upcoming book (pre-launch): Creating Time: The Key to Productivity and Peace 👉 https://shopbooksdirect.com/product/creating-time/ 📰 Subscribe to Ellen’s newsletter for updates on new episodes and the book launch: 👉 https://www.thesalientstrategist.com👉 https://api.transpond.io/form?am=42668&fid=49041&host=true  

Send us Fan MailHow do you know when it’s time to leave, even when you’re the owner ? In this episode of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams is joined by Sean O’Rourke, a cyber liability consultant, CFO, and former IT company co-founder, who shares the moment he realized he could no longer live in a millisecond-by-millisecond business. After more than 25 years in technology, including 12 years running the IT firm he co-founded, Sean made the difficult decision to step away from day-to-day operations. Not because he couldn’t do the work, but because it no longer aligned with the life he wanted to live. Together, they explore what it means to pause without quitting, how identity and motivation shape leadership decisions, and why being honest with the “reflection in the mirror” matters more than external expectations. In this conversation, you’ll hear: How to recognize burnout before it defines youWhat it really means to leave, even when you’re the bossWhy technology became a 24/7 pressure cookerHow Sean reshaped his career without walking away from his expertiseThe importance of being honest about what truly motivates youThis episode is a powerful reminder that pressing pause isn’t about stopping, it’s about choosing what comes next. 📘 Ellen Williams’ upcoming book (pre-launch): Creating Time: The Key to Productivity and Peace 👉 https://shopbooksdirect.com/product/creating-time/Learn more about Sean O’Rourke and his work at Combs & Company: 👉 https://www.combsandco.com 📰 Subscribe to Ellen’s newsletter for updates on new episodes, insights, and the book launch: 👉 https://api.transpond.io/form?am=42668&fid=49041&host=true   

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams sits down with Susan L. Combs, President of Combs & Company LLC and founder of the nonprofit Pancakes for Roger. Susan’s press pause moment didn’t come from long reflection, it arrived suddenly, under pressure, and with real consequences. After her nonprofit received an unexpected $20,000 donation, the donor later demanded that a large portion of the funds be redirected to an unvetted project. What followed was a high-stakes leadership moment involving legal threats, board deliberation, and the responsibility of stewarding money that wasn’t hers, but belonged to the mission. In this conversation, Susan shares how she: Pressed pause during a crisis instead of reacting emotionallyBrought her board together to evaluate hard options quickly and ethicallyChose integrity over convenience, even when it hurt financiallyUsed the experience to strengthen governance and prevent future riskLearned why leadership sometimes means making decisions you won’t celebrate, but can live withEllen and Susan also discuss: Why nonprofits must be run with the same rigor as businessesHow to handle emotionally charged conversations and legal threatsWhy being able to “sleep at night” is a powerful leadership compassThe importance of tone-checking responses before reactingHow moments like these shape better leaders and stronger organizationsThis episode is a powerful reminder that pressing pause isn’t always calm or comfortable, sometimes it’s urgent, stressful, and necessary to protect integrity. Learn more about Susan: https://combsandco.com Learn more about Pancakes for Roger: https://pancakesforroger.org Learn more about Ellen: https://thesalientstrategist.com 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams speaks with Judy K. Herman, CEO of Relationship Wellness LLC, psychotherapist, author, and retreat facilitator who has spent decades helping heart-centered professionals step away from the noise of life so they can return transformed. Judy’s press pause story doesn’t begin in a boardroom.It starts in a graduate school classroom, in the middle of a troubled 30-year marriage, when she realized something had to change, and that something was her. What followed was a decisive choice: to step away from her day-to-day life and invest in an individual spiritual retreat in Canada.That quiet, intentional pause gave her clarity about her marriage, her identity, and the life she wanted to build next. From there, Judy: Became a therapist to better understand her own story and help others with theirsWrote Beyond Messy Relationships, blending her personal journey with client-centered insightsDeveloped her A.I.R. framework for a “vibrantly authentic life”:AwarenessIntentionalityRisk of growthLearned that you can’t change another person—you can only take responsibility for your own next stepShe talks with Ellen about how retreats, body wisdom, and daily micro-pauses can become catalysts for major life shifts and why once you see something clearly, you can’t go backwards and unsee it. In this episode, you’ll hear: How a single retreat became a defining turning point in Judy’s lifeWhy partnership (or the lack of it) shapes both families and businessesWhat it really means to take the “risk of growth” in your personal and professional lifeWhy well-intentioned pushback from others can’t be the final word on your decisionsHow to use body signals, journaling, and daily pauses to know when it’s time to press pauseIf you’ve ever felt something in your life or leadership isn’t quite aligned, but you can’t yet name what it is, Judy’s story will give you language, frameworks, and courage to explore it. Learn more about Judy: https://judycounselor.com Learn more about Ellen: https://thesalientstrategist.com 📩 Join the newsletter for updates: https://api.transpond.io/form?am=42668&fid=49041&host=true  

Send us Fan Mail In this special Thanksgiving episode, Ellen Williams sits down with Mas Moriya, filmmaker, producer, and founder of Filmclusive, a platform he built from scratch to make hiring in film, TV, and gaming more transparent and equitable. Mas was once an up-and-coming creative working with the likes of Alicia Keys.But after the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, rising production costs, and the LA fires, the industry around him collapsed. Friends with feature films, fellowships, and awards were suddenly saying: “I’m just looking for a job. Any job. I need rent.”That turning point pushed Mas into a powerful pause, a year-long reset where he stepped away from filmmaking entirely to understand what was broken in Hollywood and how to fix it.What he found wasn’t just economic failure… but a systemic lack of tools, structure, and support for working creatives. So he taught himself software engineering and design, leaning heavily on analogies (including Pokémon!) to understand complex concepts. Yes, The story Mas Moriya shared included a very creative idea on how to learn a new skill. And that learning led him to build Filmclusive, a market network designed to end pay-to-play capitalism in Hollywood and give creatives free access to opportunities and digital tools. In this episode, Mas and Ellen discuss: How Hollywood’s economic shifts are pushing out working creativesWhy the industry still depends on spreadsheets and 10 disconnected toolsThe moment he realized no platform truly served filmmakers and performersHow AI and analogy-driven learning helped him teach himself to codeWhy small daily pauses can lead to major life pivotsThe leadership lesson Mas believes every CEO should practiceA perfect episode for anyone navigating change, reinvention, or the courage to build something new. Learn more about Mas: https://www.filmclusive.com/about-founder Learn more about Ellen: https://thesalientstrategist.com 📩 Join the newsletter for updates: https://api.transpond.io/form?am=42668&fid=49041&host=true 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams sits down with Jenica Norris, ADHD entrepreneur, systems strategist, and CEO of Strategic Sound Consulting, for a powerful conversation about what it really means to pause when your brain works differently. Jenica shares how navigating neurodivergence reshaped not only her career path but also the way she approaches energy, focus, and leadership. Instead of forcing herself into rigid productivity systems that never fit, she built a structure that supports how her mind actually works and now teaches others to do the same. This episode dives into the truth many high performers quietly face:Your success is not determined by how many minutes you manage, but by how well you understand and support your mind. 🎙 In this conversation, you’ll learn: • Why traditional productivity systems fail neurodivergent leaders • How to spot when your energy, not your schedule, is telling you to pause • The difference between bandwidth and capacity • How small, intentional pauses prevent burnout and expand your effectiveness • Practical ways to build systems that support your brain, not drain it.Whether you’re neurodivergent, managing a neurodiverse team, or simply tired of productivity advice that doesn’t work in real life, this conversation will help you approach your work with more clarity, compassion, and sustainable energy. 🌐 Learn more about Ellen: https://thesalientstrategist.com 🌐 Learn more about Jenica: https://www.strategicsoundconsulting.com 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams sits down with Sophie Devonshire, CEO of The Marketing Society and bestselling author of Superfast: Lead at Speed, to talk about why strategic pauses are the fastest way to better decisions, clearer direction, and more sustainable momentum. Sophie shares her “squiggly career” from P&G and Coca-Cola to founding and selling an e-commerce company, moving overseas, and writing Superfast. You’ll hear how she builds micro-pauses into projects (pre-mortem, midpoint check, fast feedback), uses the “soak period” when navigating a transition, and why community and coffee chats are non-negotiable when you land somewhere new. You’ll learn: How to slow down to speed up (and avoid headless-chicken mode)A simple cadence for year / mid-year / monthly reflection that actually sticksThe “100 coffees” playbook to build a real network (friends, not just contacts)How to frame a break as a “strategic pause” so ambitious teams buy in 

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when your career no longer aligns with your values?In this episode, Ellen Williams speaks with Stephanie Vaughan, about pressing pause to realign your life, family, and purpose. From walking away from corporate success to finding fulfillment through intention and emotional awareness, Stephanie shares how listening to your emotions can lead you to the right next step, both in business and at home. They discuss: The moment Stephanie realized her career no longer aligned with her valuesHow she turned a leap of faith into a 20-year coaching legacyWhat it really means to balance family, purpose, and ambitionWhy “listening to your emotions” is one of the most powerful leadership toolsIf you’ve ever felt torn between career and family, or struggled to slow down long enough to hear what your next chapter might be, this episode will speak directly to you. To learn more about Ellen, please visit: https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Barbara Lange, Principal and CEO of Kibo 121, about the courage and strategy behind leaving a secure executive role to start a purpose-driven consultancy. Barbara shares how leading an organization through the pandemic sparked her decision to step away after more than a decade, embrace uncertainty, and launch a business dedicated to sustainability in the media technology sector. She offers insight into managing risk, overcoming the fear of losing stability, and using networking and continuous learning to stand out in an emerging space. This conversation is a must-listen for leaders and entrepreneurs ready to pivot their careers and align their work with their values. To learn more about Barbara, please visit https://www.kibo121.io/To learn more about Ellen, please visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, speaks with Laura Lampa, owner and CEO of LML StoryLab Consulting. Laura shares her incredible journey from a career in science to becoming a successful entrepreneur.Laura reveals how a layoff became her pivotal "press pause" moment, forcing her to trust herself, embrace uncertainty, and launch her own business.This conversation is for anyone who has considered leaving a secure career to build something on their own terms.In this episode, you'll discover:How a layoff can be a catalyst for a life-changing career pivot.The courage it takes to leave the safety of a secure job for entrepreneurship.Why stress feels different when it's tied to passion and purpose.The importance of listening to your inner voices of doubt, as they often point to your true passions.The pleasure of working for clients who believe in you and your vision.More from Laura Lampa:Website: https://lmlstorylab.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralampa/ More from Ellen Williams:Website: https://thesalientstrategist.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/Contact: [email protected] 

Send us Fan MailHow do you rise from security guard to managing director at Morgan Stanley?  Ed Clementi did just that and then made the bold choice to bet on himself by walking away from a C-Suite career to build his own company, Inspired Fire. In this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, dives into Ed’s story of resilience, self-belief, and the importance of finding alignment in your career. In this episode, you’ll discover: How Ed rose from security guard to managing director. The crucial leadership lessons he learned from mentors who saw his potential and gave him room to grow. Why "betting on yourself" might be the most important career decision you ever make. How to recognize the signs that it’s time to "press pause" and realign your path. The simple yet powerful analogy of staying on the "wrong train" and how it applies to your career. More from Ellen:  Website: https://thesalientstrategist.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenwilliamsny/  Contact: [email protected]   More from Ed Clementi: Website: https://edclementi.com/Newsletter: https://edclementi.com/newsletter/

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Scott Ballard, CEO and owner of Confidence Coach LLC, about the life-altering experience of exiting a business and navigating the uncertain space that follows. After building a highly successful company from the ground up, Scott found himself with time, money, and no clear plan. What began as a pause after selling his company became a deeply reflective period of personal growth and spiritual searching. During this time, Scott immersed himself in volunteer work, traveling with young adults to underserved areas around the world, seeking clarity on what came next in his journey.Scott recounts how a simple request from a peer in his former industry to offer leadership advice reignited his purpose. That single encounter led to the realization that his true gift lay in helping others identify and overcome limiting beliefs—something he understood intimately through a childhood marked by dyslexia and destructive labeling. A pivotal figure in his early life helped him reframe his identity, sparking a lifelong commitment to mindset transformation. These formative experiences shaped his passion for coaching CEOs and entrepreneurs who, despite their external success, often feel like impostors or disconnected from their true purpose.The conversation closes with Scott urging leaders to consider the deeper purpose behind their pauses. He emphasizes that a pause isn’t just about rest, it’s a gateway to discovering how one’s future can align more fully with their core identity and long-term legacy. His story is a powerful reminder that mindset is not only foundational to success but essential to fulfillment, and that the most significant growth often comes from intentional stillness.For more information about Scott, visit https://www.confidencecoach.org/For more information about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams interviews Anatoly Spektor, founder of Soul to Soul Business and a seasoned entrepreneur, about the pivotal pauses that reshaped his life and work. Anatoly shares his early experiences as a software developer and consultant, reflecting on how he repeatedly ignored the signs of burnout and misalignment in corporate roles. These experiences led him to press pause, journal deeply, and analyze recurring patterns, ultimately shifting his focus toward creating businesses that align with his values. He candidly discusses the dangers of staying in comfortable but unfulfilling roles and how chasing "passive income" disconnected him from both his customers and his purpose.Anatoly recounts how stepping back—sometimes for months—allowed him to reassess his strengths, recognize gaps in leadership and team dynamics, and build a business model that integrated his technical and strategic expertise. This journey culminated in the creation of Soul to Soul, a consultancy helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs scale impactful businesses. Rather than pursuing ventures purely for financial gain, he now works with clients whose missions he believes in, bringing clarity, process design, and deep personal investment to each engagement.Throughout the conversation, Anatoly emphasizes the power of asking the right questions, the importance of listening to internal and external signals to know when to pause, and the transformative value of seeking help. He challenges the myth of effortless passive income and reframes success as building a business that brings peace and pride. Ellen echoes this sentiment, reflecting on her own journey toward finding peace through introspection and alignment. Together, they offer a compelling message: growth comes not just from doing, but from pausing with purpose.To learn more about Anatoly, visit https://soultosoulshow.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Mitchell Levy, a global credibility expert, executive coach, and prolific entrepreneur. Mitchell shares his journey through various business ventures, highlighting how critical feedback, especially the kind that challenges your assumptions, can be the catalyst for meaningful growth. He discusses how his past ventures in credibility and clarity, though profitable, weren’t aligned with market demand. A conversation with a trusted advisor helped him realize he had been selling what people need instead of what they want, prompting him to rethink his business strategy and offerings.Mitchell describes how he used that pivotal moment as a chance to “press pause” and realign his focus toward offerings that resonate more clearly with his target audience. This led to the development of two core areas: “executive abundance,” a coaching philosophy centered on five stakeholder groups (self, family, customers, employees, and community), and a streamlined LinkedIn success service focused on delivering high-impact results with minimal effort. These changes allowed him to align what he delivers with what business leaders truly want, while still integrating the values of credibility and clarity.The conversation wraps with advice for leaders on recognizing when it’s time to pause. Mitchell urges entrepreneurs to seek input from referral partners and prospects, not just friends or existing clients, to avoid the echo chamber effect. He stresses the importance of vulnerability, coachability, and being willing to question whether you're truly addressing your market’s wants. Pausing, he says, isn’t just about slowing down—it’s about finding the clarity and courage to pivot toward more meaningful, effective work.To learn more about Mitchell, visit https://mitchelllevy.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Ann Sheu, CEO and founder of Mpowered Journey, about two pivotal moments in Ann’s life when she chose to "press pause" and radically re-evaluate how she was spending her time. The first pause came after the unexpected passing of her father, which led to deep regret over not being more present during his final days. Ann shared how this experience awakened her to the danger of assuming there will always be more time for the things—and people—that matter most. It sparked a journey of personal development and prompted her to re-center her priorities around presence, values, and meaningful relationships.The second major pause in Ann’s life was a career shift from practicing law to becoming a business and family coach. While she enjoyed aspects of being a lawyer, Ann realized that the work didn’t align with her natural talents or fulfill her at a deeper level. Taking time away from work—and her identity as a lawyer—allowed her to reflect and fully embrace a new path where she could lead, coach, and help others build not just successful companies, but strong, intentional families. She now helps couples treat their family as their most important team, bringing the same level of clarity, structure, and intentionality to home life as they do to work.Ann’s advice to other leaders is to trust the quiet nudge when it arises—to listen to their intuition and take a pause before burnout or regret sets in. She encourages doing the "ME work": understanding your core values, identifying what energizes or drains you, and crafting a long-term personal vision, what she calls your “decade dream.” This thoughtful and vulnerable conversation is a reminder that success isn’t just about achievement—it’s about alignment, purpose, and choosing how you spend your most valuable resource: time.To learn more about Ann, visit https://www.mpoweredfamilies.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams sits down with Julie Niehoff, co-founder of Distance Learning Media and a long-time advocate for small businesses and veteran support. Julie shares how her intended pause to start a new business with her husband turned into an unexpected and emotional journey when her father was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. What began as a moment of planned professional reinvention quickly shifted into a deeply personal caregiving experience—one that reshaped her understanding of what really matters in life and business.Julie reflects on how this unplanned pause brought her family together and created a sacred sense of presence that continues to influence how she runs her company today. During the difficult weeks of hospice care, she and her husband would end each day on the back porch, dreaming and talking about the kind of business they wanted to build—one that served veterans, supported communities, and prioritized balance over burnout. This experience led them to form both a for-profit and a nonprofit organization with clearly defined values, and with operations designed to honor the calm clarity they discovered during their pause.Julie’s story is a powerful reminder that the most meaningful insights don’t always come during times of hustle, but in moments of stillness and connection. Her advice to other leaders: ride the wave you’re on, but know when to step back and prepare for the next, bigger wave. It’s about building the muscle of resilience while staying clear-eyed about what matters most. For Julie and her team, that means a business model built on service, intentionality, and the belief that work should be something you get to do, not something you have to do.To learn more about Julie, visit https://distancelearningmedia.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Elor Shem Tov, founder and CEO of Lucid Lev, about a deeply personal and professional moment that tested her identity and leadership. Elor recounts how unexpected accusations from colleagues in a leadership role prompted an internal investigation, threatening her reputation and sense of self. Instead of reacting defensively out of fear or anger, she consciously paused to observe her thoughts, emotions, and core values. This intentional reflection became a transformative exercise in self-awareness, resilience, and leadership under pressure.Throughout the two-and-a-half-month investigation, Elor remained grounded, resisting the urge to lash out or crumble under the weight of the situation. She explains how she leveraged her background in psychodrama and meditation to process the experience without judgment. By separating her identity from the accusations and reconnecting with her own truth, she was able to lead with clarity and composure. The experience not only cleared her name but reaffirmed her commitment to conscious leadership—ultimately inspiring her to start her own executive coaching practice.Elor offers profound advice to other leaders: listen to your body. When emotions like fear or anger surface physically, it's a sign to pause, even if just for a second, to avoid reactive patterns and choose a more intentional response. Her story is a testament to the power of self-reflection and pausing as a daily leadership tool, not just during crises, but anytime alignment and clarity are needed.To learn more about Elor, visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucidlev/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams welcomes Leah Salinas, former founder of a thriving beauty business and now Director at The Alexander Group. Leah shares her journey from early entrepreneurial success—launching a hair and makeup company that expanded to 14 artists and high-profile events—to burnout and the realization that her career no longer aligned with her values or family life. As weekends filled with weddings and long hours began to separate her from her children and husband, she faced the difficult but necessary decision to step back and reassess her future.Leah candidly recounts the two-year pause she took to explore new possibilities, acknowledging the uncertainty and discomfort of transitioning from business owner to job seeker. She reflects on the humbling experience of learning to operate in the corporate world after years of running her own business, eventually finding an entry-level sales role in tech thanks to a mentor who believed in her potential. That opportunity launched a second act in executive search, where Leah now helps others—both business owners and job seekers—identify transferable skills, navigate transitions, and build meaningful careers.Throughout the conversation, Leah emphasizes the importance of listening to your inner signals, leaning into your network, and having the humility to start over when necessary. She also credits the support of her husband as a crucial factor in her decision to pause. Her advice for other leaders: when you start feeling the misalignment, don’t wait too long to act. Visualize your future self—what will you regret more, taking the leap or staying stuck? That perspective shift, she says, can make all the difference. Would you say you’ve ever ignored your own signs that it’s time to pause?To learn more about Leah, please visit https://thealexandergroup.com/ or contact her at lsalinas at thealexandergroup dot com.To learn more about Ellen, please visit https://thesalientstrategist.com

Send us Fan MailIn this special one-year anniversary episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams welcomes guest Kim Poulos Lieberz, founder and CEO of KGI Design Group, for an open conversation about the challenges and importance of creating space to pause in the midst of a busy life. Instead of following the typical format where guests share a specific “press pause” story, Ellen and Kim discuss different types of pauses — from unexpected micro-pauses like gaining an extra hour in the day, to the larger, more intentional pauses that require planning and commitment. Kim shares how creatives, business owners, and caregivers alike often struggle with guilt when stepping back, feeling the pressure to always be available for their clients, family, and community.The conversation highlights how modern life’s constant connectivity, especially through cell phones and digital communication, makes pausing even more difficult. Kim shares her personal experiences, including caregiving for her late mother while running a business, and how the responsibilities of life seem to quickly fill any space left open. She reflects on the importance of intentionality in creating real pauses — consciously putting the phone down, resisting the pressure to respond immediately, and recognizing that taking time for oneself is not selfish but necessary for sustained energy, leadership clarity, and creativity.As the episode concludes, Kim and Ellen agree that pausing is not about stopping everything but about stepping back to gain a clearer, broader perspective. Kim shares her aspiration to take a true pause soon — not just to rest, but to evaluate her life and business decisions more thoughtfully. She commits to returning to the podcast to share her future "pause story," emphasizing the idea that intentional breaks can lead to new energy, better decisions, and a more vibrant path forward. Their conversation reinforces the core message of the podcast: pausing is not a luxury but a vital practice for meaningful living and leadership.To learn more about Kim, please visit kgidesigngroup.comTo learn more about Ellen, please visit thesalientstrategist.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Kevin Bartram, founder and principal of Bartram Partnerships, about the pivotal moments that reshaped his career and life. Kevin reflects on his early years growing up in a challenging home environment, entering the workforce at 13, and how he built a thriving career in corporate sponsorships and sustainability-focused marketing. A turning point came after the 9/11 attacks, when Kevin found himself far from home and questioning the deeper meaning of his work. That moment of reflection in a quiet Vermont town ultimately led him to step away from high-profile corporate deals to pursue work that was more aligned with his values.Kevin shares how his decision to “press pause” wasn't immediate or easy—it required him to walk away from financial security and rebuild from the ground up. Yet by doing so, he found renewed purpose, shifting his focus toward partnerships that drive social and environmental impact. From launching campaigns with iconic brands like Impossible Foods to collaborating with sustainability-driven organizations, Kevin rebuilt his business to reflect both his personal convictions and professional strengths. His work evolved into something that not only supported his family but also contributed meaningfully to causes he cared deeply about.As the conversation closes, Kevin offers valuable advice to other leaders: listen to your inner voice, create space for reflection, and don’t be afraid to talk to others who have made similar changes. He emphasizes the importance of trusting your intuition while balancing it with thoughtful planning. Kevin’s story is a reminder that taking a pause—whether brief or bold—can open doors to a more fulfilling, purpose-driven path, personally and professionally.To learn more about Kevin, visit https://www.bartrampartnerships.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams speaks with Andrea Schiavone, a seasoned operations and finance executive, about how even the most intentional pauses can be derailed by life’s unpredictability. Andrea shares her journey from leading a high-growth marketing agency through its acquisition, to planning a deliberate break for self-reflection—only to have it interrupted by the sudden loss of a family member. Her story is one of resilience, as her planned pause to rest and recalibrate became a period of mourning and caregiving. Rather than the solitude she expected, Andrea found herself supporting others through grief, extending her pause and transforming it into something much deeper. Andrea reflects on how this unexpected shift in her pause gave her new clarity about what she truly needs in her next chapter. Hiring a career coach allowed her to evaluate six different career paths, ultimately realizing that she needs stability and community—choosing not to build something on her own right now, but instead contribute to growing someone else’s vision. Along the way, she rediscovered her passion for coaching and mentoring, recognizing these as non-negotiables in her next role. She also speaks about the importance of staying open to chance—sharing how unexpected conversations and serendipitous moments have shaped opportunities for both herself and others. The conversation closes with powerful insights on the fear that often accompanies pressing pause—fear of stagnation, of change, of the unknown. Andrea emphasizes that it’s in those moments of stepping back, no matter how difficult, that clarity often emerges. Her advice to leaders is to honor the instinct to pause, especially when fear or burnout surfaces, and to remember that life is too short to live on autopilot. Her story is a moving reminder that even interrupted pauses can become transformative when we remain open, intentional, and courageous.  Learn more about Andrea at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andschiavone/ Learn more about Ellen at https://thesalientstrategist.com/ 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Ellen Williams interviews Jennifer Gulbrand, founder of Embody Your Essence, who shares her journey of breaking free from burnout and discovering authenticity. After 35 years in the health and wellness industry, Jennifer realized that her business success did not equate to personal fulfillment. Despite her achievements, she felt disconnected from her own truth. Through mindfulness, meditation, energy work, and intentional stillness, Jennifer reconnected with herself and shifted her focus toward promoting self-care and authenticity, eventually founding the SheBreathes Balance Women's Collaborative and later expanding it to the We Breathe Wellness Center.Jennifer highlights the importance of listening to oneself and recognizing when life no longer aligns with one's deeper purpose. She emphasizes that pausing is not about giving up but rather about realigning with one’s authentic self. Her advice for leaders and entrepreneurs is to recognize signs of burnout and exhaustion as signals to press pause, reflect, and realign. Jennifer concludes by encouraging listeners to embrace introspection and courageously pursue their own evolution, as true transformation begins within.To learn more about Jennifer, visit https://jenngulbrand.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Rajen Sheth, formerly a vice president at Google Cloud AI and industry solutions, shares with host, Ellen Williams, how he took a bold step after nearly two decades at Google. Motivated by a desire to make a positive social impact, he pressed pause on his career, leaving behind the familiar security of his role to explore how technology could improve educational equity. During this hiatus, Rajen reconnected with personal interests—like recording music—and spoke with numerous teachers and experts to better understand educational needs. These conversations, he explains, offered valuable insights and shaped the founding vision for KyronLearning, a public benefit company using AI to provide students with more interactive and accessible instruction. In describing his journey, Rajen emphasizes two key reflections that propelled him forward: the importance of waking up every day with a clear sense of purpose, and looking decades ahead to determine whether his work would genuinely leave a positive mark on the world. He also addresses the idea of “mental cement,” the feeling of being stuck in a comfortable career path. By deliberately creating a space to pause—rather than leaping from one role to the next—he found both clarity and courage. With KtronLearning now three years old, Rajen maintains a clear commitment to its mission, demonstrating how pivotal it can be for leaders to step away, reevaluate, and ultimately chart a more meaningful course. To learn more about Rajen, visit https://kyronlearning.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, host Ellen Williams speaks with entrepreneur and philanthropist Mei-Yung Lee about her unique approach to taking a “pause” when burnout loomed. Mei-Yung, CEO of Ageless Zen—a natural skincare research and manufacturing company—found herself overwhelmed by the demands of building her organization from the ground up. Instead of stepping away entirely, she joined her local Rotary club. This simple shift in focus gave her both a mental break and a new community of like-minded individuals who share her passion for service. The volunteer work not only revitalized Mei-Yung’s energy, but also sparked fresh insights into how she could integrate philanthropy into her for-profit ventures. As a result, she founded the AZ Circle of Giving Foundation, which teaches other nonprofits to use creative, sustainable methods of generating consistent revenue, rather than relying solely on occasional fundraising efforts.Through these ongoing “pauses” of community engagement and service, Mei-Yung discovered that helping others energized her and brought renewed perspective to her own business challenges. She emphasizes that leaders can recognize the need for a pause when they find themselves becoming impatient or short-tempered with those around them. By stepping outside of daily pressures, whether to serve others or simply find personal respite, leaders return to their work with greater clarity and a more innovative spirit. Mei-Yung’s story underscores the power of recharging through service projects and community involvement, showing how these experiences can both prevent burnout and become a wellspring of new ideas.To learn more about Mei, visit https://agelesszen.com/To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this podcast episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams welcomes guest Johanne Brierre, CEO of Brooklyn Commons and New York Beauty Suites. Johanne recounts her transition from working in the fast-paced New York City hospitality industry to founding co-working spaces in her Brooklyn neighborhood. She explains how she recognized a need for supportive, community-oriented resources for entrepreneurs, especially outside Manhattan’s usual tech and business hubs. With minimal funds, she took a leap of faith—pressing pause for a year to identify the right partnerships, incubator-style supports, and a sense of purpose in serving her local community. Through dedication and persistence, Brooklyn Commons has grown into a dynamic environment that empowers over 350 small businesses and “beauty-preneurs,” offering shared offices, event venues, and a network of fellow founders.Johanne reflects on the challenges of navigating COVID as the owner of a shared workspace, sharing how community spirit sustained many of her members and helped them adapt to new circumstances. She highlights the power of pausing to regain clarity, emphasizing that true progress and impact rely on stepping back to align with personal values and collective goals. Throughout the conversation, both Ellen and Johanne stress the significance of building authentic relationships, embracing a long-term vision for success, and recognizing that pausing does not mean losing momentum—it can be the key to achieving deeper impact.To learn more about Johanne, visit https://bklyncommons.com/ To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/ 

Send us Fan MailEllen Williams host of Time To Press Pause and CEO of The Salient Strategist, Inc. welcomes Paige Arnof-Fenn, founder and CEO of the global branding firm Mavens and Moguls. Paige describes how a six-year period of family caregiving and estate responsibilities forced her to step away from the demanding pace she had maintained early in her entrepreneurial journey. Despite initial fears that scaling back would harm her thriving business, Paige found the opposite to be true: taking time away for personal priorities revealed that “less could be more.” Rather than constantly networking and chasing clients, she shifted her focus to deeper and more meaningful conversations with fewer contacts. This approach allowed her to maintain strong client relationships, secure new business more organically, and improve her own well-being. Additionally, Paige reflects on the lessons learned from both her family crisis pause and the collective pause of the recent pandemic. She emphasizes that genuine self-care—such as prioritizing exercise, building quality relationships, and dedicating time to activities aligned with one’s values—can lead to stronger professional outcomes and a more fulfilling life. For other business leaders and entrepreneurs, she recommends proactively creating space for these pauses rather than waiting for a crisis, urging them to remain clear on their core values and long-term goals. To learn more about Paige, visit mavensandmoguls.com To learn more about Ellen, visit thesalientstrategist.com 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams interviews Jeffrey P. McNulty, CEO and Founder of New Retail Ethos Consultancy. Jeffrey recounts two major "press pause" moments in his life that spurred him to step away from a long career in retail leadership.First, after nearly three decades in executive roles with companies like The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Publix, Jeffrey felt he had lost his signature energy and passion, prompting him to question his path. It took him three years of reflection to finally leave retail management and pivot to consulting—offering his expertise as a retail research analyst to global clients in finance and investment.His second major pause came in 2017, when peers and friends encouraged him to share his industry insights through a book. This led to The Ultimate Retail Manual, which has become a bestseller and is now available in 27 countries. Jeffrey credits his success and well-being to strong support from loved ones, spiritual grounding, and a personal commitment to helping others grow as leaders. He also highlights the importance of discernment and self-awareness, urging executives and leaders to check in regularly with family and friends for honest feedback when burnout or disillusionment sets in.Overall, Jeffrey’s story illustrates how embracing the need to pause—whether through changes in career or by taking on new creative pursuits—can unlock fresh perspectives and renewed passion in both professional and personal life.Here are links to learn more about Jeffrey:New Retail Ethos Website Link: www.newretailethos.comThe Ultimate Retail Manual: Strategies for Retailers to Thrive & Succeed in the Digital World: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Retail-Manual-Strategies-Retailers/dp/1732565414The Ultimate Retail Course Link: www.theultimateretailcourse.com Here is where to find information about Ellen https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of “Time to Press Pause,” Ellen Williams speaks with Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, an ophthalmologist, entrepreneur, and first-generation Indian American who grew up undocumented in the United States. Dr. Batliwala shares how his early struggles with belonging and external validation fueled his ambitious pursuit of success—becoming a doctor, doing research on vision in zero gravity, and even founding a cell phone repair franchise. Yet despite these achievements, he discovered that relentless drive came at the cost of his personal relationships. A turning point arrived when his wife left, prompting him to reflect on the difference between “pathological ambition” and purposeful ambition.To rebuild, Dr. Batliwala took a 33-day retreat, disconnected from technology, and began unpacking childhood traumas and unhealthy coping mechanisms. He links this journey of self-awareness to the concept of the “overview effect,” a sense of unity and belonging astronauts often experience when observing Earth from space. He now emphasizes that genuine belonging isn’t found in external accomplishments but rather in recognizing our shared humanity. In advising entrepreneurs and leaders, Dr. Batliwala urges them not to wait for rock bottom but to press pause whenever they notice any part of their life declining, using honesty and self-reflection to reorient toward deeper purpose and meaningful connection.To learn more about Dr. Batliwala, visit visionarydoc.comTo learn more about Ellen Williams, visit thesalientstrategist.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, host Ellen Williams interviews Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU and co-founder of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School, as she recounts her transformative moment of realizing she felt detached from her work’s impact. Once working at the intersection of technology and national security, she found herself in boardrooms advising tech giants but missing the direct connection with communities. It was only after an emotional epiphany—crying during a flight while watching a children's movie—that she acknowledged how much she wanted to be back in a role serving people more directly. This led to launching Brooklyn Lab in downtown Brooklyn, with a mission centered on equity, personal connections, and supporting students furthest from opportunity.Through InnovateEDU, Erin now strives to bridge practice and policy in the education sector, placing empathy, vulnerability, and generosity at the core of her leadership. She underscores the necessity of checking in with oneself to ensure authenticity and alignment with personal values, and she advocates for a “slow start” each morning to pause, reflect, and approach each day with intention. Her story is a reminder that sometimes “pressing pause” can steer you toward work that aligns more closely with both passion and purpose.To learn more about Erin visit innovateedunyc.orgTo learn more about Ellen visit thesalientstrategist.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time To Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with CEO Megan Steckly of CompuDopt. She shares how she dramatically grew the nonprofit—from a shoestring budget and three-person staff to a multimillion-dollar organization serving hundreds of thousands across 24 states. Amid the rapid expansion, Megan realized she was burning out: working around-the-clock and feeling stuck in a cycle of constant urgency. She describes how she “pressed pause” by seeking therapy, enrolling in a drawing class, embracing yoga, and hiring a COO. These steps helped her let go of micromanaging, reduce stress, and create room for other leadership voices to thrive. Megan’s key takeaway is that leaders should watch for signals of overwhelm—such as irritability and fatigue—and proactively pause, even with a short break, to reconnect with themselves and lead more effectively. To learn more about Megan, please visit computdopt.comTo learn more about Ellen, please visit thesalientstrategist.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams interviews Ruchi Pinniger, founder and CEO of Watch Her Prosper. Ruchi recounts her background on Wall Street, where she excelled in leadership and team-building, yet felt unfulfilled. She took a sabbatical hoping to discover her true passion, dabbling in nonprofit work, baking, and decorating. Although she temporarily returned to the corporate world, Ruchi soon decided to leave permanently, realizing she found more joy in mentoring others than in climbing the corporate ladder. With encouragement from a coach and her husband, Ruchi listened to what her network repeatedly told her: they needed help with their numbers. This led her to launch Watch Her Prosper, where she provides financial guidance, bookkeeping services, and “money mindset” support to women-led businesses. Ruchi’s story underscores the power of pressing pause, trusting one’s instincts, and blending skills with genuine passion. She encourages leaders to recognize when fear and a desire for control may be blocking growth—both personally and within a team. Her approach centers on separating emotion from data, helping clients transform financial confusion into clarity, and using visualization to reframe limiting beliefs. Through her work, Ruchi empowers entrepreneurs to pause, evaluate, and make confident, informed decisions that fuel both professional and personal prosperity.  To learn more about Ruchi, visit watchherprosper.com. To learn more about Ellen, visit TheSalientStrategist.com. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Donna Cravotta, CEO and founder of Cravotta Media Group. Donna shares how, after 18 years running a virtual agency that managed everything from PR to technical fixes, she realized she had built a business she no longer loved.By taking stock of her 40-year professional journey, Donna recognized she was devoting precious time and energy to services that drained her—such as constant website fixes and juggling multiple social media accounts—rather than the strategic visibility work she excelled at. To address this, she decided to let go of tasks that didn’t light her up, offloading or discontinuing them so she could refocus on her strengths: guiding clients toward meaningful, intentional visibility.Donna’s advice to leaders or entrepreneurs at a crossroads is to pay attention to the signals—both mental and physical—indicating it’s time for a reset. In her experience, the key is giving yourself permission to prune away responsibilities that no longer serve you, thereby freeing up space for the work that truly aligns with your goals and expertise.To learn more about Donna, visit https://cravottamediagroup.com/ To learn more about Ellen, visit https://thesalientstrategist.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Urs Koenig, founder of the Radical Humility Leadership Institute and author of Radical Humility: Be a Badass Leader and a Good Human. Urs shares his powerful story of “pressing pause” on his life at age 50 to rejoin the Swiss military as a United Nations and NATO peacekeeper.Inspired by his father’s volunteer work in Somalia decades earlier, Urs felt a deep call to take on meaningful international service—despite the personal and professional sacrifices required. He explains how stepping away from his coaching business for nearly two years, and leaving his family behind during his deployments was both challenging and transformative. Upon returning, Urs shifted his career from full-time executive coaching to keynote speaking, illustrating how pressing pause can open doors to new possibilities.Throughout the conversation, Urs and Ellen discuss the importance of honest self-assessment and reflection, recognizing self-talk and doubts, and being prepared for potential pushback when making life changes. Urs emphasizes that realigning one’s work and relationships with personal values can be profoundly rewarding, even when it’s difficult.To learn more about Urs, visit www.urskoenig.com.To learn more about Ellen, visit www.thesalientstrategist.com.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams welcomes two guests: executive coach and Morningstar Ventures CEO Andrea Chilcote, and philanthropic advisor Stephanie Borsari. Andrea explains three common reasons professionals “press pause” in their careers: being involuntarily forced into change (such as restructuring), retiring without clarity on the next chapter, or experiencing a slow values or lifestyle clash. Stephanie falls into the last category; though she had a successful career in executive management, she discovered her role was unfulfilling and misaligned with her deeper values. With Andrea’s guidance, Stephanie decided to leave her position and step back to rediscover what mattered most.During her professional sabbatical, Stephanie tried out various creative pursuits—writing poetry, considering new hobbies, and reevaluating her work identity. Eventually, she discovered she wanted to return to philanthropy on her own terms, establishing an independent consulting practice that allows her to focus on connecting private foundations and donors to meaningful causes. Andrea notes that not everyone must become a business owner; what’s important is to discover the path that authentically aligns with one’s strengths and values.Both Andrea and Stephanie emphasize the privilege of taking a reflective pause, underlining the honesty and integrity needed to answer difficult questions about one’s true calling. Modern leadership, Andrea adds, acknowledges no individual can have all the answers. Stephanie now embraces vulnerability and emotional connection as key to her identity, and they both advise leaders to press pause the moment they discover they are no longer their best selves or are working for the wrong reasons.  

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams speaks with Henry Poydar, founder and CEO of Steady, a predictive coordination platform that grew out of his earlier venture, Status Hero. Henry describes two pivotal moments when he paused to reconsider his next steps. After co-founding Bantam CRM and joining Constant Contact post-acquisition, he spent three years working on a major systems integration project—a process he likens to open-heart surgery. Longing to return to hands-on product development, he created Status Hero, a tool that addressed the challenges of large teams trying to stay aligned asynchronously. Eventually, he built Status Hero to a seven-figure ARR before realizing he needed additional capital to scale beyond his solo efforts. Choosing investors who shared his commitment to sustainable growth allowed him to assemble an elite distributed team and rebrand as Steady, expanding the product’s capacity to serve entire organizations.Throughout the conversation, Henry highlights how his technical background fueled fast, iterative development and let him adapt Status Hero to user feedback almost instantly. He also underscores the value of maintaining strong networks, crediting connections from Constant Contact and elsewhere with helping him raise the kind of funding that aligns with his vision. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of transparent communication and context-sharing so that everyone on a team understands the “why” behind decisions. According to Henry, leaders should be deliberate about taking time to reflect, ensure the entire organization remains curious and informed, and continuously reinforce the mission and values that guide the work.

Send us Fan MailIn this special New Year’s episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams compiles lessons from several Season 1 guests to help leaders make 2025 a purposeful and growth-oriented year. Each guest highlights a key insight for personal and professional development:Stay Open to Possibilities DC Glenn, half of hip-hop duo Tag Team and CEO of CLG Investments Inc., discusses the importance of setting aside ego and embracing every opportunity as it arises. He compares past experiences to a “language model” that informs future decisions, emphasizing continual learning and evolution.Lead Authentically on Social Media Jaci Clement, CEO of Fair Media Council, underscores the need for leaders to be visible online. She recommends sharing enough personal insights to humanize yourself without overexposure, reinforcing that people want to see the real face behind the brand.Accept Life’s Uncertainty Alan Furlong, CEO of The Growth Doctors, recalls a life-altering injury at 16 to illustrate how quickly circumstances can change. He reminds leaders that there’s never a full guarantee of certainty, and that sitting with “unknowing” often reveals new opportunities that align more closely with market needs.Root Decisions in Core Values Barbara Fonti, founder of The Fonti Group and chief business coach at Big Dream Executive Coaching, emphasizes creating a personal “root document” of non-negotiable values. By aligning decisions with these core values, leaders can bring authenticity and consistency to every role they play.Plan Your Pause Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier, leadership psychologist and author of The Resilience Plan, stresses the importance of scheduling pauses just as strategically as you schedule other organizational activities. Building “pause time” into your routines safeguards resilience and mental well-being.Pause for Collective Good Carol Silva Moralez, CEO of Upskill NWA, advocates not only for personal pauses but also for team-wide reflection. By giving everyone thinking space and involving them in critical decisions, organizations foster a culture of collaboration, well-being, and continuous improvement.These insights form a powerful blueprint for stepping into 2025. Ellen invites listeners to begin the new year by pressing pause more deliberately—allowing space to focus on what truly matters, stay open to possibility, and stay grounded in personal values. Season 2 of Time to Press Pause promises more real-life C-Suite stories, offering further inspiration for leaders ready to thrive in the year ahead.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams interviews Rob Levin, a long-time friend and business colleague, about the pivotal moments in his entrepreneurial journey that stemmed from deliberately taking time to pause and reflect.Rob shares two main “press pause” stories:New York Enterprise Report: Rob launched this media venture in 2003, featuring a magazine and business events for small business owners. Although it gained reputable national advertisers and high-profile features (including two stars from Shark Tank), it never became financially robust. After a decade of grinding, he finally paused to evaluate the magazine’s actual viability. This reflection led to his decision to sell the business—a move that, while not lucrative, allowed him to pivot and pursue more sustainable opportunities.Work Better Now: In 2018, Rob co-founded a company providing remote executive assistants from Latin America to U.S. businesses. Initially focused solely on placing assistants, a client’s unexpected success with multiple hires prompted Rob to pause and rethink the broader possibilities. Realizing the talent’s varied skill sets, Work Better Now expanded from offering just EAs to filling 40+ different roles. This pivot required retooling the entire business model but proved far more impactful for clients and for the company’s growth.Throughout the conversation, Rob emphasizes the importance of pausing—whether to determine when to exit a struggling venture or to glean deeper insights from client feedback. He credits meditation, intentional journaling, and delegating administrative tasks (by having his own assistant) as crucial ways to create mental and strategic space. Both Ellen and Rob underscore how reflective time helps entrepreneurs distinguish between customer suggestions worth pursuing and those best set aside. Ultimately, Rob’s experience illustrates that methodical pauses and openness to feedback can catalyze stronger, more resilient business models and leadership approaches.

Send us Fan MailIn this special Thanksgiving episode of "Time to Press Pause," host Ellen Williams reflects on the themes of gratitude, togetherness, and reflection amid a year marked by global conflicts and challenges. She emphasizes the importance of "pressing pause" to foster unity, understanding, and resilience within ourselves and our communities, starting at our own Thanksgiving tables.Ellen revisits transformative conversations from Season 1 that are particularly relevant during the holiday season:Stephen Foster (Episode 1): Founder of One Golden Nugget, Steven discusses the significance of slowing down and being present. He highlights that true leadership involves pausing to listen and embracing stillness to elevate oneself amid a fast-paced digital world.Ben Renshaw (Episode 3): A leadership specialist and author, Ben emphasizes energy management across physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. He advocates for finding meaning in work and life, suggesting that pressing pause helps identify what is truly important and impactful.Julie Thomas (Episode 26): President and CEO of ValueSelling Associates, Julie talks about the critical nature of time management and delegation. She encourages leaders to empower their teams, focus on strategic priorities, and avoid micromanagement to maximize effectiveness.Paul Dupuis (Episode 13): CEO of Take 5 Global, Paul shares insights on leadership centered around making team members feel safe. He introduces the concept of the "enabling leader" who fosters an environment where everyone can be their best selves.Bridgette Smith (Episode 10): Founder and CEO of Purpose Led Ventures, Bridgette speaks on resilience and perseverance. She shares her personal journey of overcoming professional setbacks by staying true to herself and not giving up.Hilary Topper (Episode 5): CEO of HJMT Public Relations, Hilary discusses the importance of pursuing what brings joy. She recounts how embracing her passion for endurance sports led to personal happiness and a more balanced life, even if it meant scaling back her business.Brynn Gibbs (Episode 24): CEO of Consumer Fusion, Brynn highlights the shift from self-comparison to self-appreciation. Inspired by the book "The Gap and The Gain" by Dan Sullivan, she emphasizes celebrating personal progress and being the architect of one's own life.Charles Gaudet (Episode 9): CEO of Predictable Profits, Charles underscores the transformative power of gratitude, even in the face of profound loss. He shares how finding gratitude during his father's passing helped him develop a stronger mindset and personal growth.Ellen announces that Season 2 of the podcast will expand its focus beyond CEOs to include diverse leaders from various sectors like education, healthcare, and community organizations. The upcoming season aims to explore broader themes such as emotional intelligence, leading through crises, and the importance of vulnerability.As the episode concludes, Ellen encourages listeners to bring gratitude and presence to their Thanksgiving celebrations. She urges everyone to pause their worries and embrace the small moments of connection and appreciation with loved ones. Expressing her gratitude for the listeners and the journey so far, she looks forward to the next season and wishes everyone a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving.

Send us Fan Mail In the Season 1 finale of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, reflects on the journey of launching the podcast in April and emphasizes that pausing is crucial for everyone, not just CEOs or business leaders. Whether for personal or business reasons, taking time to pause can help people think things through and find new perspectives.  Ellen announces that the podcast itself will take a short pause before returning for Season 2, thanking all her guests and listeners for their support in this experimental journey. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time To Press Pause, Ellen Williams interviews Julie Thomas, President and CEO of Value Selling Associates, who shares her journey of career transformation and entrepreneurship. Julie begins by recounting her experience at Gartner, a large IT research and advisory company, where she had a successful career in sales and training. However, in 2002, after a leadership change, her position was eliminated. Following this unexpected turn, Julie decided to pause her career to focus on herself and her family, even spending time playing tennis before reassessing her next steps.Through career coaching provided by her severance package, she explored entrepreneurship, eventually leading her to take over a business from a friend and colleague. In 2003, she acquired ValueSelling Associates and became its President and CEO, a role she has held for over 20 years. Julie describes herself as an “accidental entrepreneur” and reflects on the challenges of running a small business, emphasizing the importance of agility, strategic prioritization, and empowering her team.The conversation also touches on leadership insights, including the necessity for CEOs to press pause when clarity is lacking, the value of learning from mistakes, and the importance of prioritizing time effectively. Julie highlights that entrepreneurship involves risk, but it also offers freedom and flexibility, which are particularly crucial when balancing work and personal life. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier (MH), a leadership psychologist, executive coach, and workplace mental health expert. Dr. Peltier discusses the importance of taking strategic pauses in life and leadership, sharing her own experience of pressing pause during the lead-up to her book launch, The Resilience Plan. She emphasizes how proactively managing her time before, during, and after the book's publication allowed her to be fully present and creative during key moments, something she attributes to the success of her launch.Dr. Pelletier explains that pressing pause doesn’t always mean a complete stop, but rather adjusting the usual pace to focus on what matters most. She also highlights the importance of integrating pauses into one’s strategic planning for resilience, ensuring leaders have the mental space and energy to seize new opportunities.Ellen and Dr. Pelletier discuss how taking breaks enables better performance and creativity, offering advice to CEOs and leaders to plan for pauses as part of their leadership strategies. The conversation concludes with the reminder that leaders should be intentional about their resilience, just as they are about other business goals.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time To Press Pause, Brynn Gibbs shares her experiences as a CEO and the pivotal moments when she realized she needed to "press pause" to improve her leadership and company culture. About three years ago, she recognized that her controlling nature was hindering the growth of her company, Consumer Fusion. To address this, she implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which helped her delegate responsibilities, empower her team, and foster a healthier work-life balance. The EOS tools, particularly the People Analyzer, allowed her to align her team with the company's core values and restructure roles for better efficiency and satisfaction. Brynn also discussed the importance of understanding and maintaining the "why" behind her business, which stems from her personal experience with cyberbullying in high school. This passion for reputation management continues to drive her work today. Brynn shared a second "press pause" moment related to her tendency to compare herself to other successful companies, which caused her stress and detracted from her enjoyment of work. Her business coach introduced her to the book *The Gap and The Gain* by Dan Sullivan, which helped her shift her mindset to focus on celebrating her own progress rather than comparing herself to others. This change in perspective allowed her to better appreciate her achievements and set a healthier long-term vision for her life and business. Overall, Brynn’s advice to CEOs is to recognize when it's time to pause and reassess, avoid unhealthy comparisons, and focus on empowering their teams for sustainable growth.  To learn more about Brynn Gibbs, go to www.consumerfusion.com. To learn more about Ellen Williams, go to www.thesalientstrategist.com. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Time to Press Pause, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Julie Christiansen, known as the "Anger Lady," who is the president and CEO of Leverage U and author of 15 books on leadership and mental health. Julie shares her personal story of burnout and pressing pause after her father suffered two strokes, and she experienced a severe bout of vertigo due to stress. She discusses the importance of recognizing the signs of burnout, grounding oneself, and practicing intentional self-care strategies. Julie emphasizes the value of delegating tasks with purpose, building resilience, and balancing work with personal well-being. She also offers practical advice on identifying when to pause, using methods like the "fun and money" exercise to evaluate which tasks to prioritize, and checking in daily on emotional well-being. Julie’s experiences serve as a reminder for CEOs and entrepreneurs to prioritize mental health and avoid pushing through stress at the expense of long-term well-being.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of "Time to Press Pause," host Ellen Williams speaks with Melinda F. Emerson, CEO of Quintessence Group and America's #1 Small Business Expert, also known as the "Small Biz Lady." Melinda shares her personal "pause" story, recounting how a high-risk pregnancy in 2005 forced her to step away from her workaholic tendencies and rethink her life and business. She reflects on how this unexpected break led to soul-searching and a realization that her business and marriage were broken. Through this period of rest and reflection, Melinda began a journey of reinvention, ultimately creating a new path as the "Small Biz Lady."Melinda explains how she used her business experiences, especially her mistakes, to write her bestselling book, *Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months*. Despite facing setbacks, such as the 2008 financial crash, she embraced faith, which guided her toward success. Melinda also emphasizes the power of reinvention, advising CEOs to take time to pause and reflect on what they truly love, as it can lead to new and unexpected business opportunities.Throughout the podcast, Melinda speaks candidly about the challenges of entrepreneurship, faith, and finding balance, highlighting the importance of using one's experiences to inspire and guide others.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the "Time to Press Pause" podcast, host Ellen Williams speaks with Dr. Neha Sangwan, CEO and founder of Intuitive Intelligence, about her experiences with burnout, stress management, and the importance of pausing in life. Neha shares her journey as an overachiever who pushed herself to please others, ultimately leading to severe burnout. She discusses the pivotal moments in her life that forced her to pause and reevaluate her approach to work and well-being. Neha emphasizes the importance of aligning with one's inner self and respecting natural cycles of rest and growth. She also highlights the significance of addressing stress at its root, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare. The conversation explores how CEOs and leaders can balance their drive to achieve with the need to maintain their own well-being, and how past experiences, even difficult ones, can contribute to personal growth.