By Jerry More Nyazungu –Author of “Why African Businesses Die Young”
This week, the internet did what it does best catch people off guard and on camera. At the center of the buzz? None other than Andy Byron, the CEO of a little-known AI company called Astronomer, and his HR officer, Kristin Cabot, who were locked in an intergalactic embrace at a show in the USA. A cameraman zoomed in, the crowd gasped, and boom the video went viral.
Every blog, every tweet, every meme had one thing in common: Astronomer was trending. Suddenly, this obscure AI company was mentioned in the same breath as CNN, BBC, and Fox News without spending a single cent on a marketing agency.
Yes, what they did was ethically questionable, and as a business consultant who has seen companies crumble over office romance (check Chapter 17 of Why African Businesses Die Young), I do not condone it. In fact, one of the companies I once consulted closed shop because the CEO and the Finance Manager were busy doing pillow talk instead of cash flow statements.
But allow me, just for a moment, to remove my consultant’s hat and wear my marketing hat.
** Houston, We Have a Marketing Miracle**
In marketing, there’s a saying:
“All publicity is good publicity.”
Before this scandal, Astronomer was just another AI company floating in the tech universe. Now? They’ve been catapulted into global awareness. Brand recognition? Engagement? Free PR on global networks? Somewhere in the marketing department, someone is dancing in joy with a PowerPoint labeled “Q3 Brand Reach: Mission Accomplished.”
Let’s be honest — marketing doesn’t always come in neat press releases. Sometimes, it shows up in the form of awkward cuddles and HR violations caught on camera.
Lemon? Or Lemonade?
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?
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Kim Kardashian’s scandal? Many thought it was career-ending. Now she’s a billionaire, a business mogul, and even studying law.
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Our very own Loraine Guyo in Zimbabwe her “Ndinyengeiwo” video went viral for the wrong reasons, but instead of sinking, she soared. She became one of Zimbabwe’s top socialites and media personalities.
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Donald Trump love him or hate him, the man is a walking headline. Court cases, tweets, and wild statements? All part of the master plan. He understands one thing: **stay in the news, stay in power.
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Even Chidhumo, the notorious escapee from Chikurubi Maximum Prison in the ’90s, became a “celebrity thief.” Crowds gathered not to condemn, but to see him. Strange world, isn’t it?
** In the New World Order: Controversy Sells**
Like it or not, controversy is currency in today’s digital age. Public attention is the new gold, and anyone who can generate noise good or bad is already winning the first round of branding.
So while Astronomer’s boardroom may be burning with HR meetings and disciplinary hearings, the company’s brand equity is skyrocketing. They went from “Who?” to “Whoa!” in less than 24 hours.
Scandal or Strategy?
Of course, they need to address the ethical and professional mess. But once the dust settles, they should also take a step back and realize:
“We just got more marketing than we could ever afford.”
So next time you think you’re shaming someone on social media, ask yourself: **Are you helping them trend? ** **Are you giving them free marketing? ** Are you building their brand while trying to break them?
#OfficeRomance #MarketingLessons #AstronomerAI #ControversySells #Branding #WhyAfricanBusinessesDieYoung #DigitalMarketing #FreePublicity #ScandalToSuccess #JerryNyazungu #ZimBusiness
