Prince Harry has got his first job in business as an executive at a Silicon Valley start-up that claims to be worth $1.73 billion, where he will promote an app used by corporate goliaths including Hilton, Facebook and oil giant Chevron to improve the mental health of their workers.
The Duke of Sussex was unveiled as the Chief Impact Officer at BetterUp, whose CEO Alexi Robichaux has refused to say how much the royal will be paid, but comparable positions at other Calfornia firms would command six or seven-figure salaries.
Harry, who’s served in the British Army but has no corporate experience, will not manage any employees but will be required to appear at special company functions and spend time at the company’s San Francisco office for meetings once COVID restrictions are lifted.
The prince, who says he’s been using BetterUp’s app since January, started talks with them about a position last Autumn after being introduced to USC graduate Mr Robichaux through a mutual friend.
BetterUp employs therapists and executive coaches on contracts, who are matched with clients to give mental health coaching by video link through the app.
Most of its clients are in the United States, but it does have executive coaches employed in the United Kingdom. The tech firm works with corporate giants including Facebook, Google, Snap Inc, NASA, Hilton and Warner Brothers.
And there will be some raised eyebrows because Harry has spoken extensively on the necessity to protect the environment, but BetterUp has also worked with oil colossus Chevron and demonstrating why he’s taken the position, Harry told the Wall Street Journal in a suitably corporate response that he plans to help create an impact in people’s lives.
Proactive coaching provides infinite opportunities for personal development, heightened awareness, and an all-round better life.
The problem is, he’s got the job on the back of being part of the family that represents the United Kingdom, yet he no longer represents the United Kingdom, and this is the man who didn’t seem to be able to support his wife when she felt suicidal, so what skills does he have for this kind of specialised work?
And it might appear as if he’s got a job, but we shouldn’t be so ignorant as not to believe it’s some sort of made-up position, but perhaps it might be good for him because he’ll be in precisely the best place for his mental support if Meghan chooses to divorce him.
Or maybe he could enrol Meghan as his first high profile mental health patient.
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