Vermont Teddy Bear 2

Was the controversy a positive or a negative for the company? For Robert?

Initially, as per the maxim "there's no such thing as bad publicity," the controversy was a positive for the company, boosting sales and upping its public exposure/name recognition.

Over the long haul, however, the controversy may have produced negative or undesirable connotations for the company, dealing as it does with cuddly products.

For Robert, the assessment of positive or negative seems more a personal question based on her priorities. She kept her high-paying job and gained personal name recognition, so if she wants to be perceived as a big, tough player in corporate America, then this was a positive for her as well. If she wants to be perceived as a family-oriented, compassionate teddy bear herself, then it was a negative.