Popflex Founder Considered Shutting Down Company
Popflex founder Cassey Ho nearly closed her activewear brand due to a detrimental hire. A piece of advice from her COO and a revised hiring process helped the company recover.
Cassey Ho, founder of the activewear brand Popflex, was close to shutting down her company because of issues stemming from a single bad hire. Ho stated that the situation led to panic attacks and a loss of confidence in her own leadership and abilities.
The difficulties were not financial or product-related but arose from the negative impact of one employee on the company culture and Ho's self-perception. "One bad person can truly ruin everything," Ho commented, describing a moment of despair in her car where she considered quitting.
Her husband and Popflex's COO, Sam Livits, intervened by asking her to commit to another 30 days before making a final decision. This period also saw the implementation of a new hiring strategy, which contributed to turning the company's trajectory around.
Ho indicated that the poor hiring decision had significant consequences, impacting not only finances but also her personal belief in her role as CEO. The adjusted approach to recruitment and her husband's support were crucial in overcoming the crisis.