Crisis Containment & Reputational Risk

When staff are detained, panic spreads fast. Internal teams scramble for answers. Stakeholders press for updates. And behind the scenes, someone always suggests “just paying to make it go away.” But bribery isn’t an option—especially if you plan to keep operating with integrity. This case study is especially relevant if…

Client updates are getting stale. Competitors are catching up too quickly. Nothing’s confirmed—but something’s off. You suspect there’s a leak. The team is small. You trust them. But trust doesn’t stop data from walking out the door. This case study is especially relevant if you are: A founder sensing a…

An anonymous blog starts publishing false stories about your company—accusing leadership of fraud, inventing quotes, and fabricating screenshots. It’s not in the news cycle yet, but it’s showing up on Google. Stakeholders are noticing. And legal action would only make it louder. This case study is especially relevant if you…

Your staff starts getting strange phone calls. The voices claim to be local officials. No money is demanded, but the tone is unmistakable: “We’re watching.” There’s no clear threat—just unease. You sense the intent isn’t fraud, but fear. And you’re right. This case study is especially relevant if you are:…

You’re offered a lucrative contract—fast cash, minimal questions, full creative freedom. But something about it doesn’t sit right. The urgency feels rehearsed. The polish feels performative. And suddenly, you’re not just questioning the project—you’re questioning the risk of becoming part of something you can’t walk away from cleanly. This case…

The campaign was working. Conversions were up. Then a cease and desist letter landed—loud, legal, and full of threats. Panic spread. Should they shut it down? Call a lawyer? Go silent? Instead, they called Pholus. And the campaign got better. This case study is especially relevant if you are: A…

An employee walks off the job—carrying a stack of sensitive client files. No exit interview. No handoff. No digital backup. The documents aren’t encrypted. And the stakeholders? They’re 3,000 miles away, already asking who needs to resign. This case study is especially relevant if you are: A COO or founder…

A founder stepped away for paternity leave—something earned, not improvised. But during that brief absence, a long-trusted employee began quietly diverting client payments into a personal bank account. By the time the founder returned, reputational risk was escalating, and client trust was already fraying. This case study is especially relevant…

One staff member accuses another of theft. It lands hard—because the accused is well-liked, and the accuser is senior. Leadership acts fast. But something doesn’t add up. The evidence is thin. The motive seems personal. And now the organization is one wrong move away from legal risk, internal collapse, or…

A trusted staff member gets a call: someone close to them has been killed—broad daylight, cartel-linked, blocks from your headquarters. Panic spreads. Staff stop showing up. Rumors of retaliation surface. You don’t have time to convene a task force. You need to move—calmly, but now. This case study is especially…