Business Leadership

The kiss cam heard ‘round the world a couple of weeks ago was more than just an opportunity for memes and commentary on spousal affairs. When two not-so-innocent adults are caught on a live concert cam in an embrace during one of the biggest bands in the world’s stadium shows, there is bound to be an incredible amount of fallout.

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, were in the middle of enjoying Coldplay’s Foxborough, MA (Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots)  set when a routine “kiss cam” moment sent him off-camera and her with her face in her hands…caught live, on video, for the world to soon see.

The problem is that Byron is married, but not to Cabot. And, they are two very high-ranking executives conducting an improper relationship in a rising tech company in a hot industry (AI). And, this improper behavior has illuminated some of Byron’s past leadership issues, with several former employees (from Astronomer and other organizations) recalling his harsh leadership style, rigid culture, and toxic management style.

Byron is certainly a dodgy person and both his past and present paint a picture of someone that is untrustworthy and toxic. Even in a high-intensity, breakneck space like tech, bad workplace culture will eat the company alive.

Push away all of the memes, the humor, even the sympathy for Byron’s wife, who scrubbed her married surname from her social accounts, and let’s look at this for what it is: a pure example that all leaders are human…for better or worse.

A pendulum swing the “other” way just a few years ago proved how humanity had a major role in the Future of Work movement. As the COVID virus swept across the globe, everyday workers faced insurmountable challenges ranging from a lack of daycare, newfound remote work setups, general fear of the times at hand (who wasn’t worried about the economy or their finances in 2020?), and, for far too many of us, a foreboding sense of uncertainty over what a new virus could do to our bodies or our family members.

During those times, true leaders sparked humanity through empathy-led leadership and new, brighter strategies that prioritized the human spirit. Executives “with heart” put themselves in their workers’ shoes, understood their perspectives, and provided the necessary support and flexibility for their teams to survive and thrive during uncertain times.

As workers, we trust our leadership teams to guide us through good and bad, through crisis and calm, and with transparency and transition. We expect our leaders to be guiding lights, not a source of emotional darkness and negativity.

The Astronomer even is more than fodder for tabloids and social media; it’s a reminder that, yes, Peter Parker…with great power comes great responsibility. Leaders are expected to uphold principles, set examples for their teams (AND their brands), and, most importantly, be f—king human.

Byron’s past leadership woes ultimately came back to haunt him, but they would have never popped up if he held the proper balance of self-awareness and integrity that are needed for Chief Executive Officer positions. Byron blurred professional boundaries and jeopardized several careers, the Astronomer brand, and the company’s overall organizational culture.

Our leaders are inherently human, emboldening both the “gifts” and “liabilities” of what humanity brings to an executive role. For all of the powerful, transformative leadership shifts during the post-pandemic era (empathy, creativity, resilience), there are also the darker elements like ego, misjudgment, and moral failure.

As generations exit the workforce and new generations enter, it is critical for all current and potential executives to truly understand what is at stake as they either hone or learn key management styles: balance the humanity at hand, rally a positive workplace culture, and foster an environment that is attuned to the values of the organization.