Following his much-documented retreat from Royal life within the UK in March of 2020, it was announced this week that the Duke of Sussex will be taking up a new role within the coaching and mental health firm Better Up, the BBC has reported.
Prince Harry, who discussed mental health at-length in his recent interview with US television personality Oprah Winfrey, will take the senior leadership position of Chief Impact Officer – a role the Wall Street Journal noted was largely unseen outside of the non-profit sector.
Having been a key advocate of mental health initiatives for over a decade, the role represents the Duke’s first officially-held role at a private organisation since stepping down from royal duties last year – and forms a key part of the Duke and Duchess’ plan to become financially independent of the monarchy.
In a statement released to the press, Prince Harry noted that his primary goal within the new position would be to "lift up critical dialogues around mental health, build supportive and compassionate communities, and foster an environment for honest and vulnerable conversations".
Whilst it seems that his position will not be a managerial role, BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux recently told the Wall Street Journal that the Prince is likely to operate out of the firm’s San Francisco headquarters when it is safe to do so.
The Duke is also expected to have a vast input on strategic company direction going forward, boost BetterUp’s links to charitable organisations and be a public advocate for improved corporate mental health through his role.
Prince Harry commented that when he met with Robichaux for the first time, they "instantly recognised a shared passion for helping others realise their full potential," as reported by the BBC.
A blog post on the BetterUp website confirming the appointment noted: “It is with great pleasure and excitement that we welcome our first Chief Impact Officer: Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. We are energised by his model of inspiration and impact through action.
“As a true citizen of the world, he has dedicated his life’s work to bringing attention to the diverse needs of people everywhere and advocating for mental health initiatives: from founding the Invictus Games, a platform for service personnel to use sport as part of their psychological and physical rehabilitation, to launching Sentebale, which supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people affected by HIV in Lesotho and Botswana.”
Prince Harry also noted: “I firmly believe that focusing on and prioritising our mental fitness unlocks potential and opportunity that we never knew we had inside of us. As the Royal Marine Commandos say, ‘It’s a state of mind.’ We all have it in us.”
