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In 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/

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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

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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/