Founder fires 2 employees after finding out they were cheating on their partners: 'Can't have cheaters'

When questioned whether she would fire someone for cheating even if it occurred outside work, Natalie Dawson replied in the affirmative.

Natalie Dawson, co-founder and president of Cardone Ventures, sparked a heated debate after she told "The Diary of a CEO" podcast that she immediately dismissed two employees when she learned they were having an extramarital affair. Dawson said she regarded the dishonesty as a liability to her company’s culture of trust and performance.

According to Dawson, the termination was “an instant decision”: as soon as she discovered the affair, she let go of both individuals. She told host Steven Bartlett that she “can’t have cheaters” in her organisation, arguing that someone who cheats in their personal life might also be unfaithful in business.

Dawson said she viewed personal integrity and professional ethics as deeply intertwined. “If somebody has a problem in their personal life, they're the same person that shows up to work,” she said. She maintained that part of her role as leader is to protect a values-driven culture.

When questioned whether she would fire someone for cheating even if it occurred outside work, Dawson replied in the affirmative. She remarked: “If they’re going to cheat on the person they’re supposed to spend the rest of their life with, do you think that they’re cheating on their work? … That person in any environment is a liability.”

She also addressed criticisms by saying that to foster the kind of culture she wants — one of high performance and accountability — she must draw firm boundaries. “I really wrestle with who I need to be and what the boundaries are that I set for myself,” she said.

Her remarks produced a surge of online discussion.Some praised her for holding firm to her values. Others, however, accused her of overstepping, arguing that an employee’s private life should remain separate from their professional evaluation.

"Never do business with a cheater... If they can cheat with the most important person in their life, imagine what they’d do behind your back," a user quoted Wise Elliot.

Another user wrote, "What a retard it’s none of your business What people do outside of the office."

Dawson co-founded Cardone Ventures in 2019 together with her husband and investor Grant Cardone. According to her personal bio, she has helped scale the business to more than US$250 million in revenue, advising on building high-performance teams.