Pros
Hyper Hippo boasted an exceptional company culture. I had the privilege of working with a fantastic group of individuals who were friendly, kind, and always supportive of one another. The projects we worked on were engaging and enjoyable. The company demonstrated impressive adaptability during the pandemic, seamlessly transitioning to remote work and ensuring smooth operations. Transparency was a core value, supported by regular all-hands updates on company happenings. The people-first culture was evident, complemented by impressive employee benefits and competitive wages. My team was excellent. I had the best, most innovative, and supportive managers. Even while working remotely, there was a strong sense of community within the organization.
Cons
Unfortunately, 2022 marked a turning point for Hyper Hippo. The company realized belatedly that the absence of game releases significantly impacted its financial situation. Delays, changes, and cancellations in the games surprised the leadership, leading to eventual layoffs within a few weeks after the CEO expressed in an all-hands meeting that they did not foresee layoffs until 2024. This misdirection had consequences, causing a loss of external opportunities and challenges in a shifting job market—a violation of the Transparency core value from earlier. On a personal level, I was eager to contribute to the DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) group at Hyper Hippo despite my demanding workload that often required 50+ hour work weeks. While I valued the importance of this initiative, the group faced fluctuations in membership due to competing work obligations. As the co-chair, I was disheartened to find that I was the only member from the DE&I group to be laid off (from the first round of layoffs) and, coincidentally or not, the only visible racial minority from that group. Additionally, I was asked to participate in a corporate video alongside another person of color, as everyone else was white. While I appreciated the company's intention to showcase diversity, we were both subsequently laid off, raising questions about the company's commitment to creating a genuinely inclusive and diverse representation. I understand there were no racist intentions behind this decision, but the outcome, similar to the DE&I group, was not a good look. (A quick glance at Hyper Hippo's "Our People" page will demonstrate why it's *really* not a good look.)
