Ellen Williams
Business Analyst and CEO, The Salient Strategist
With over 25 years of experience as a technology and business process leader, Ellen has built a reputation as a trusted partner to both executive stakeholders and implementation teams, translating business needs into smart, efficient, scalable solutions.
Ellen’s insights come from both executive and hands-on experience, and she specializes in end-to-end business analysis, extending beyond just discovery. She supports the full lifecycle, from stakeholder interviews and process mapping to quality assurance and implementation oversight, ensuring the original business goals stay front and center. Her ability to ask the right questions, map what matters, understand existing data, and clarify the “why” behind the work makes her a steadying force in even the most complex technology projects.
Known for her plain-English communication style and systems mindset, Ellen bridges the gap between strategy and configuration. She draws from her extensive experience in CRM, ERP, ESG, marketing automation, and AI to guide teams through every phase of transformation. Her work consistently injects data cleansing, process improvement, and efficiency, so companies don’t just get functioning systems; they get better ways to work.
Ellen is also the host of Time To Press Pause: A Podcast for CEOs by CEOs, where she interviews leaders on the power of intentional decision-making and the moments that shaped their leadership journeys.
A recognized thought leader, Ellen has spoken at events including NYC Social Media Week, NYxPO, and Sage Software Partner Summit. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Crain’s New York Business, Inc. Technology, and other leading publications. She’s appeared on podcasts including Sustainable Minds, Shark Bite Biz, Actionable ESG™️ Talks, and The ESG Show.
Her credentials include certifications from Wharton (AI for Business), eCornell (Data Analytics), Salesforce (AI Associate), and GBCI (Sustainability Excellence Associate), among others. She is a published author and a long-time advocate for systems that serve people.