Absolutely Horrible Leadership - Great Pay - Anonymous employee StrongMind Employee Review

2.0
12 Oct 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pretty cool office space and gym, great pay for higher positions. Good curriculum department.

Cons

A perfect case study of a poorly managed company. $54M annual revenue from Primavera Online High School, Strongmind is just the technology arm and barely clears a few million in sales after YEARS of trying to make something happen. Huge staff that doesnt' get much done and they don't support the only team that really makes them any money. Management hasn't changed since they changed their name from FlipSwitch (go read the reviews), I should have taken warning from those wise words. The CEO still functions like a startup CEO by telling teams what to do and what to build on a whim, bypassing all normal strategy and planning. He even built a 1970s style office that overlooks everyone on the "floor" with big glass walls, pretty incredible. Sales has no idea what they are doing and there is no real product. The main product was created for Primavera and was trying to be sold to other companies but requires a ton of custom code which is NOT scalable. The leadership has no idea how to build good products with any type of methodology and it takes its toll on the staff. Basically, it's "do what the CEO thinks" without data or research or anything to back it up and spend way to much time and money on things that will never see the light of day. People say they want change, but they don't really and people are scared to speak up. Must be why good people are leaving left and right. You have been warned.

Explore other reviews about StrongMind

5.0
11 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pros: Collaborative culture, student-centered mission, flexibility, growth opportunities, innovative use of technology.

Cons

Cons: Fast-paced environment and evolving priorities can require adaptability and strong time-management skills.

5.0
17 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

StrongMind was founded by a true entrepreneur who still leads the company today, and that mindset shows up across the organization. Employees have real autonomy in how they work, and ideas are welcomed from every level. It feels like an all-hands-on-deck environment where people can make an impact. The mission is clear and meaningful. There is a strong focus on supporting students and families, which helps guide decisions and keeps internal politics low. The culture is positive and supportive. People are kind, collaborative, and leadership makes an effort to keep employees engaged and connected.

Cons

Like many growing organizations, there are times when priorities evolve quickly as new opportunities emerge. This can occasionally require teams to adjust focus or shift between initiatives. As the company continues to grow, there are opportunities to further streamline processes and maintain consistency across teams.

avatar
StrongMind Response
1mo
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this! We really appreciate it. I’m so glad the mission, autonomy, and overall vibe are showing through for you. That “jump in and make an impact” energy is exactly what we’re going for around here 😊 And fair call on priorities shifting. We’re growing, and we know that can feel fast at times. We are very dedicated to working on keeping things clearer and more consistent as we continue to scale. We are so grateful to have you on this journey with us and so glad you’re part of StrongMind! Noelle Creamer Chief People Officer
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All