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

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Ellen Williams welcomes Steven Foster, Founder of One Golden Nugget, He’s the founder of One Golden Nugget and publisher of One Golden Nugget: A journey of self discovery, sharing, wisdom and dream making.

He’s been a serial entrepreneur for over 25 years creating entertainment companies and in his own words, only to watch them fall apart. He attributes One Golden Nugget to changing his life forever. 

They discuss the concept of pressing pause in life and business, emphasizing the importance of reflection for personal and professional growth. Foster shares his own experiences of pressing pause, including a significant pause he took after going through a divorce, which led to a period of reflection and reinvention. They explore how CEOs can effectively communicate the need to pause to their teams and the benefits of incorporating mindfulness into decision-making processes. Foster also highlights the power of kindness in fostering happiness and success.

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Ellen Williams welcomes Adrienne Garland, CEO of She Leads Media, a media marketing and visibility consultancy offering women leaders and entrepreneurs strategic consulting, educational content, conferences, and a podcast network to share their stories, thoughts, and opinions with the world. She is dedicated to helping women launch and scale their businesses and gain media visibility for economic and social impact. 

 Adrienne shares her personal journey of transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way. She emphasizes the significance of recognizing when a situation no longer aligns with one’s values and the courage it takes to make a change. Adrienne discusses how unexpected events, such as a performance review, can serve as wake-up calls to reevaluate one’s path.

The conversation delves into Adrienne’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she faced significant disruptions in her business but ultimately found new opportunities through teaching and consulting. She reflects on the importance of staying true to one’s core values and finding alignment in both personal and professional pursuits.

Throughout the discussion, Adrienne advocates for taking regular pauses to celebrate accomplishments and acknowledge personal growth. She encourages listeners, especially women entrepreneurs, to honor their journey and give themselves credit for their achievements.

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Ellen Williams welcomes Ben Renshaw, Founder of Ben Renshaw Ltd. He is a well-known speaker with signature keynotes, including Leading with Purpose and Performance with Purpose. As an executive coach, his clients include Choice Hotels, Heinz, KPMG, and Unilever, to name a few. He is also a best-selling author of six books, the most recent title, How to Be a CEO, was published in 2023. 

Ben shares his personal experience of recognizing the need to press pause when he felt exhausted from juggling his business, global travel, and family responsibilities. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s own energy sources and managing them effectively, highlighting exercise and daily meditation as key practices for maintaining energy levels. Ben also discusses the significance of identifying meaning and impact in one’s work, advising listeners to have a clear plan for personal and professional development. Ellen and Ben explore the idea that pressing pause offers an opportunity for reflection and a fresh perspective, ultimately leading to greater stability, consistency, and resilience in life. They conclude by encouraging listeners to prioritize self-care and regularly reassess their goals and priorities.

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Ellen Williams welcomes Jerry Colonna, CEO at Reboot.io.

Jerry shares his perspective on the importance of pausing, drawing from his personal experiences and insights from his books. He emphasizes the concept of standing still as a means of coping with challenges, particularly his own battle with depression. They discuss the cultural shift towards acknowledging the value of taking breaks and the historical significance of pausing in various wisdom traditions. Jerry also explains his approach to sabbaticals, viewing them as opportunities for exploration and rejuvenation rather than seeking specific outcomes. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the importance of creating space for reflection and relaxation, encouraging listeners to embrace the power of pressing pause in their own lives.

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In this episode of “Time To Press Pause,” host Ellen Williams interviews Hilary Topper, CEO of HJMT PR and the Chief Curator of HJMT Media Company. Hilary discusses her career, beginning with the founding of her firm in 1992 and its growth from a home office to a larger team. Despite business success, the constant networking and responsibility became overwhelming, leading her to a crucial moment where she chose to “press pause” and reassess her life. This turning point came when she saw people running and, despite never being athletic, decided to start running herself. This new passion eventually led her to participate in triathlons, become a triathlon coach, and shift her business model to allow more flexibility and personal fulfillment. She also shares a personal story about her sister’s tragic experience with a misdiagnosed aneurysm, which later influenced Hilary’s own health decisions when she faced a similar scare. The podcast emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and making significant life changes for personal well-being and health. 

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In the “Time To Press Pause” podcast, host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Barbara Fonti, founder and CEO of Big Dream Executive Coaching. Fonti, a seasoned executive coach and former CEO of The Fonti Group, shares her journey and insights. She discusses a pivotal moment in her career when she realized her company’s direction did not align with her values during an industry event. This led her to “press pause” and reevaluate her business strategy, ultimately pivoting towards consulting on the Affordable Care Act, which proved successful and aligned with her values. Fonti emphasizes the importance of leaders being rooted in their personal values and recommends creating a “root document” to guide decision-making. The conversation highlights the significance of mindfulness and self-actualization in leadership.

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In this episode of “Time To Press Pause,” host Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Michael Todisco, President of Apprenticeship Connections and Consulting Corp. Michael discusses his mission to guide individuals through career paths that don’t require a college degree, highlighting his creation of the first manufacturing group sponsorship and registered apprenticeship programs on Long Island.

Michael shares his pivotal moment in 2013 when, at 35, he became the membership director of a trade association for non-union commercial construction companies. This role exposed him to apprenticeship programs, a concept he was previously unfamiliar with. Observing the growing difficulties young people faced due to rising college costs and limited job opportunities, Michael recognized apprenticeships as a valuable but underutilized solution.

In 2017, driven by this realization, Michael left his job to start Apprenticeship Connections, focusing on educating the public and assisting employers with apprenticeship programs. Despite initial fears and doubts, he officially launched his company in February 2019. Since then, he has expanded his programs beyond New York, creating new apprenticeship opportunities in states like Illinois and Indiana, and developing diverse programs for roles such as fitness instructors, bench jewelers, and event coordinators.

Michael emphasizes the importance of acknowledging achievements despite daily challenges. He takes pride in helping individuals of all ages find successful career paths through apprenticeships. Ellen praises Michael’s perseverance and success, and Michael reflects on the significance of maintaining passion and recognizing accomplishments in his work. The episode encourages listeners to explore alternative career paths and appreciate the value of apprenticeships in addressing workforce challenges.

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In the podcast “Time to Press Pause,” Ellen interviews Beth, who shares her journey and achievements in helping women in business. Beth highlights her self-described “midlife crisis” decision at 50 to make a significant career change, leading her to establish Moxxie Network LLC in 2008, a networking group for senior-level women. She later founded the Moxxie Mentoring Foundation to address the leadership gap for young women through mentoring programs like Junior Moxxie and Ms. Moxxie. During the pandemic, she launched “Moving On with Moxxie,” a program to assist women in job transition. Beth emphasizes the importance of adapting and staying relevant to support young women effectively. As she approaches retirement, she focuses on succession planning to ensure Moxxie’s continued success. The conversation reflects Beth’s dedication to empowering women and her plans for the future. 

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In the podcast “Time To Press Pause,” Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, interviews Charles Gaudet, CEO of Predictable Profits, about the importance of taking pauses in a CEO’s life. Charles discusses three types of pauses: daily short pauses, intermediate pauses during challenging times, and long-term pauses due to major events. He emphasizes the need for CEOs to maintain their internal energy levels and not let their “battery” run to zero, as this leads to poor decision-making. Charles shares personal stories, including how he found gratitude after his father’s death, and stresses that a mindset of gratitude is crucial for effective leadership. Ellen resonates with his insights, recalling her own experiences with gratitude and positive mindset. They conclude that taking thoughtful pauses and having a grateful mindset can significantly impact a CEO’s decision-making and overall success.