Ellen Williams
CEO, The Salient Strategist – Professional Strategist, Transformation Expert, Podcast Host, Professional Speaker, and Author
With over 25 years of experience as a technology and business process leader, Ellen has built a reputation as a trusted partner and advisor. She creates presence, clarity, and transformation by translating business needs into smart, efficient, and scalable solutions—always with the human impact in mind.
Ellen’s perspective is shaped by decades spent interviewing leadership teams and working alongside employees at every level of an organization. She understands that true transformation doesn’t start with systems; it starts with listening. By deeply understanding how people work, where friction exists, and what truly matters, she helps organizations simplify complexity and move forward with intention.
Her work spans end-to-end business analysis, extending far beyond discovery. Ellen supports the full lifecycle—from stakeholder interviews and process mapping to quality assurance and implementation oversight—ensuring original business goals remain front and center. Known for asking the right questions and clarifying the “why” behind the work, she brings steadiness and focus to even the most complex initiatives.
Her expertise includes CRM, ERP, ESG, marketing automation, and AI, and the outcome of her work is better ways of working. Through streamlined processes, cleaner data, and thoughtful system design, Ellen helps teams reclaim time, reduce overwhelm, and create space to focus on what matters most. This philosophy is at the heart of her book, Creating Time: The Key to Productivity and Peace, which explores how intentional choices, aligned systems, and presence-driven leadership create meaningful and lasting transformations.
Ellen is also the host of Time To Press Pause: A Podcast for CEOs by CEOs, where she interviews leaders about intentional decision-making, leadership presence, and the pivotal moments that shaped their journeys.
A recognized thought leader, Ellen has spoken at events including NYC Social Media Week, NYxPO, and the Sage Software Partner Summit. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Crain’s New York Business, Inc. Technology, and other leading publications. She has 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 long-time advocate for systems that serve people, so work supports life.