Send us a text

This episode features a conversation between Ellen Williams, CEO of The Salient Strategist, and Jeremy Goldman, former founder and CEO of Firebrand Group and current Senior Director of Marketing, Commerce, and Tech Briefings at eMarketer. Jeremy shares his experience running Firebrand Group, an award-winning digital marketing firm, and his eventual decision to "press pause" on his entrepreneurial career. He explains the challenges of scaling a business based on custom projects and how this realization led him to sell his company and move into a role where he could learn and grow within an established organization.

Jeremy discusses the difficulties of convincing others that he genuinely wanted to step back from leadership and learn from others, as many expected him to start something new immediately. He reflects on the importance of humility and continuous learning, even for CEOs, and how these traits can sometimes be misunderstood in the business world. Jeremy also highlights the significance of taking deliberate breaks or "pressing pause" to make thoughtful decisions about one's career and business, rather than getting caught up in day-to-day operations.

Ellen and Jeremy also touch on the cultural differences in how humility and leadership are perceived in various markets and organizations. The conversation concludes with advice for CEOs on recognizing when it's time to take a step back and focus on making strategic decisions.