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

Ellen Williams

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.

  1. 4H AGO

    From Scientist to Storyteller: A Press Pause Story with Laura Lampa

    Send us a text   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: ellen@thesalientstrategist.com

    17 min

  2. SEP 4

    The Courage to Press Pause: Ed Clementi on Leaving a C-Suite Career to Find Alignment

    Send us a text How 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: ellen@thesalientstrategist.com    More from Ed Clementi:  Website: https://edclementi.com/Newsletter: https://edclementi.com/newsletter/

    18 min

  3. JUN 23

    Mindset is the Most Important Thing with Scott Ballard

    Send us a text In 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/

    27 min

  4. JUN 15

    Strive for Peace with Anatoly Spektor

    Send us a text In 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/

    24 min

  5. JUN 7

    Focusing on Needs and Wants with Mitchell Levy

    Send us a text In 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/

    20 min

  6. MAY 29

    Later is Not Guaranteed with Ann Sheu

    Send us a text In 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/

    19 min

  7. MAY 22

    There's More to Life Than Your Business with Julie Niehoff

    Send us a text In 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/

    20 min

  8. MAY 16

    Observe Without Judgement with Elor Shem Tov

    Send us a text In 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/

    22 min
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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.

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