YesMadam CEO Reflects on Controversial Campaign and Personal Resilience Journey

Mayank Arya, CEO of YesMadam, has apologized for his company’s controversial campaign that aimed to raise awareness about workplace stress but instead drew widespread criticism. The controversy arose after a screenshot of an email from the company’s HR Manager went viral. The email stated that employees who admitted to experiencing stress in a workplace survey conducted by the company would be let go.

In a later statement, the company clarified that no employees were fired and that the campaign was a planned effort to emphasize the impact of workplace stress. Arya acknowledged in an eight-minute video shared on LinkedIn that the campaign was poorly communicated, though its intentions were well-meaning. He admitted that while the execution led to backlash, his aim was to spark a meaningful conversation about stress at work.

Addressing the criticism, Arya reportedly mentioned that some people accused the company of resorting to “cheap PR” tactics, even suggesting that he deserved to be reprimanded. Arya conceded that the messaging failed but maintained that the campaign was conceived with good intentions.

In a separate viral LinkedIn post, Arya shared a deeply personal account of surviving an armed robbery in Liberia in 2013, a harrowing experience that significantly shaped his resilience and entrepreneurial journey. During the incident, Arya broke his leg while escaping and was told by doctors that recovery would take two years. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Arya turned the adversity into an opportunity for growth.

Recalling the event, Arya described lying in bed after the attack, consumed by doubts about whether he would ever walk again. In his post, he reflected on his struggles, writing, “They say time heals all wounds. But that’s a lie. It’s what you do with time that truly builds you up.” He shared details of the injury, the excruciating pain, and the long road to recovery that ultimately shaped his perspective on courage and perseverance.

Arya included a letter to his past self, expressing gratitude for the strength he found during that difficult period. He credited the experience for teaching him that real courage lies in rising after a fall. “You fought through all the pain, and today you are running your own company. You taught me that real courage isn’t in never falling—it’s in refusing to stay fallen,” he wrote.

Three years after the incident, Arya launched YesMadam, an at-home beauty services platform, in 2016. Reflecting on his journey, Arya said the lessons he learned during his recovery continue to inspire him to this day. Sharing a photograph from his bedridden days, he described how the leg injury, once seemingly insurmountable, ultimately propelled him toward building a company and a purpose he is proud of.

He concluded his post with optimism and determination, stating, “We’re running! Not just on our feet but towards a purpose we are proud of. And guess what? We are not stopping here. Period.”

Arya’s story, juxtaposing a controversial campaign with a narrative of resilience and growth, highlights both the challenges and the learning moments of entrepreneurship.

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