Time To Press Pause - Real-Life Stories from the C-Suite
The only constant is change.
To successfully navigate through the change, leaders need the time and space to focus.
It’s time to press pause.
Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, is the host of these raw, intimate C-Suite "press pause" stories. Listen to the why, when, and how they knew it was time to press pause and their outcomes.
Pausing to focus is crucial, whether it is minutes, days, weeks, or longer because some decisions can be made quickly, but many can’t and shouldn’t.
Episodes
40 episodes
Less is More with Paige Arnof-Fenn
Ellen 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 r...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 11
•
18:56
Trust Your Feelings with Jeffrey P. McNulty
In 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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 10
•
19:01
Pause Before You Hit the Bottom with Dr. Shehzad Batliwala
In 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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 9
•
21:24
What Is Your Currency? with Erin Mote
In 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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 8
•
20:17
Secure Your Mask Before Helping Others with Megan Steckly
In 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 ser...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
18:22
Identify Your Transferable Skills with Ruchi Pinniger
In 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 unfulfil...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
17:31
Let Go of Things You No Longer Need with Donna Cravotta
In 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 ever...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
18:57
Enagage in Honest Assessments to Avoid Regret with Urs Koenig
In 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 power...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
19:49
Discover What You Really Want with Andrea Chilcote & Stephanie Borsari
In 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 profession...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
18:05
Creating Your Point of View with Henry Poydar
In 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 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
17:03
Special Episode: Happy New Year 2025
In 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 perso...
•
Season 2
•
15:12
Learn From Your Customers with Robert Levin
In 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 tim...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
17:01
Thanksgiving Episode with Ellen Williams
In 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 "pressi...
•
21:41
Season One Finale - Everyone Pauses with Ellen Williams
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 busines...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 27
•
3:03
Be Agile and Focus on the "What" Not the "How" with Julie Thomas
In 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 Ga...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 26
•
21:50
Be Present to Unleash Creative New Opportunities with Dr. Marie-Hellene Pelletier
In 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 th...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 25
•
18:11
Delegate and Elevate Your Team with Brynn Gibbs
In 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 ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 24
•
17:07
Get Grounded and Build Resilience with Julie Christiansen
In 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 hea...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 23
•
20:32
Have Faith with Melinda Emerson
In 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, recou...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 22
•
19:07
Slowing Down was the Biggest Gift I Could Have Ever Been Given with Neha Sangwan, MD
In 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. Neh...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 21
•
17:44
Be Creative, Make Something, Have Fun with Susie deVille
In this episode of "Time to Press Pause," hosted by Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, Ellen interviews Susie deVille, founder and CEO of the Innovation and Creativity Institute and author of "Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Be...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 20
•
22:04
It's Okay to say "No" with Carol Williams
In this episode of "Time to Press Pause," hosted by Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, Ellen speaks with Carol Will, owner of Coach Carol and Beacon of Light Center LLC. Carol shares her journey as a woman business owner and mother,...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
17:06
You Don't Have to Be a CEO Forever with Jeremy Goldman
This episode features a conversation between Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, and Jeremy Goldman, former founder and CEO of Firebrand Group and current Senior Director of Marketing, Commerce, and Tech Briefings at eMarketer. Jerem...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 18
•
15:28
"Tuck & Roll" - Be Prepared to Pivot with Bonnie-Lyn de Bartok
In the podcast "Time To Press Pause," hosted by Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, she interviews Bonnie-Lyn de Bartok, founder and CEO of The Social Factor Data Company. Bonnie-Lyn, an expert in social risk and performance measurem...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 17
•
19:05
Pause and Reevaluate to Give the Best That You Can with Enrique Acosta Gonzalez
In this episode of "Time to Press Pause," Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Enrique Acosta Gonzalez, CEO of Triad Leadership Solutions, LLC. Enrique, a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, shares his journey from military ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 16
•
18:45