Working at Mochi Health was emotionally damaging beyond normal workplace stress. The environment felt chaotic and unsafe, largely due to the CEO’s leadership style. Decisions were impulsive and inconsistent, creating constant anxiety. It is normal for priorities shifted with little to no warning, but the issue is that expectations were unclear, and employees were often blamed for failures rooted in poor leadership and lack of planning. This made it impossible to feel secure in your role, regardless of performance.
Many employees lived in fear of being fired, and that fear was justified. Terminations often felt abrupt and poorly explained. A common sentiment among former employees is that being fired from Mochi was “the best thing that ever happened to them,” because it ended the constant stress and self-doubt. Others who quit voluntarily have told me they finally feel emotionally regulated, and are rebuilding their confidence post-Mochi.
The CEO’s behavior and communication were a primary source of distress. Interactions frequently felt dismissive or demoralizing. Employees were made to feel that burnout and confusion were personal failings rather than rational responses to dysfunction. Over time, morale and psychological safety pretty much ceased to exist.
This was not about workload or a fast-paced startup. Many employees had thrived in high-pressure environments elsewhere. The stress came specifically from leadership.
