ABOUT US

Meet the Women Behind Pause Breathe Proceed — Karen & Kecia.

We created Pause Breathe Proceed from a shared belief that life doesn't have to be lived on autopilot. We know what it feels like to carry too much, push through the stress, and convince ourselves that everything is fine when it isn't.

Together, Karen and Kecia bring their unique experiences, perspectives, and passion for helping people pause, breathe, and create meaningful change. Through Pause Breathe Proceed, they’ve created a space where you can step away from the noise, reconnect with yourself, and discover practical ways to move through life with greater intention, resilience, and freedom.

Different stories. One shared mission: helping you pause, breathe, and proceed into a life that feels more like your own.

KAREN WRIGHT

Founder/CEO

Karen Wright is a keynote speaker and the owner of Pause Breathe Proceed™ — a practical, science-backed method that helps people reset their nervous system and respond to pressure with intention instead of autopilot. Three words, one habit: pause, breathe, proceed.

Before she built PBP, Karen led corporate teams at Delco Systems Operations, the aerospace arm of General Motors, and at the Fortune 500 consulting firm Atos Origin. She knows the weight of real work from the inside — which is why her approach skips the woo and hands people something they can actually use in 90 seconds, at their desk, in the middle of a hard day.

For more than 26 years she's studied mind-body mastery and nervous system regulation. She's a licensed massage therapist and a graduate of the Inner MBA program through NYU's MindfulNYU and Sounds True. From her studio in Boyne City, Michigan, she helps organizations, families, and friends build calm and clarity by design, not by default — whether that's a company's culture, a household, or the way one person meets a hard day.

KECIA FREED

Partner/Brand Designer

My design roots go way back to the 1980s in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota, where I started out as an art director in advertising agencies. From there, I headed to Minneapolis after being recruited as a senior designer for a package design firm—working with iconic household names like General Mills, Hasbro, and Cracker Jack.

In 1994, I officially launched my own practice, partnering with a wonderful writer and marketing consultant to build brands for clients across healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

Today, you’ll find me in scenic Boyne City, Michigan, partnering with an incredible variety of clients—from nonprofits and museums to builders and local retailers.

While my core focus is always branding and design—spanning everything from corporate identity, packaging, and digital spaces to signage, exhibits, and environments—I love guiding projects from the ground up. That means I’m right there with my clients handling business naming, brand positioning, messaging development, and even coordinating photography and production to bring the whole vision to life.

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