SAY YES. LEAD. — With Paula Gold-Williams

Paula Gold-Williams, former CEO of CPS Energy and leadership strategist, walks us through her journey from accounting to executive leadership and now into board, consulting, and mentoring roles. In conversation with Anthony and Chi-Chi, she lays out her core principles:

• Why leadership is a daily choice, not a title

• How to hold both data and people in your decisions

• Seeing mistakes and disruption as a crucible for growth

• Embedding ethics, values, and purpose into AI adoption

• The practical mindset shift from perfection to optimization

This episode is for any leader grappling with change, whether you’re restructuring, scaling a team, or wrestling with the implications of technology in how we lead.

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Paula Gold-Williams is a distinguished executive, board member, and leadership strategist best known for her tenure as President & CEO of CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned electric and gas utility in the United States. With a career spanning finance, operations, and energy transformation, Paula has been recognized for her people-first leadership and her ability to navigate complex challenges with empathy and innovation.

During her time at CPS Energy, she guided the organization through major transitions in technology, sustainability, and workforce development — all while championing inclusion and community impact. Today, she continues to shape the future of leadership as a board director, speaker, and advisor, helping executives balance performance with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

Paula’s approach centers on courage, curiosity, and collaboration — encouraging leaders to say yes to challenges, grow through discomfort, and lead with both heart and strategy. Her insights bridge business acumen with humanity, inspiring others to optimize every opportunity rather than chase perfection.