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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/

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In 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

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In 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.com

To learn more about Ellen, please visit thesalientstrategist.com

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In 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/

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In 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/

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In 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/

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In 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/

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In 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/