Prince Harry has several jobs. I hate this narrative that his new job with Better Up is somehow his first gig. The deals Harry and Meghan made with Spotify and Netflix are truly for BOTH of them. They’re building their Archewell brand and the brand will be huge. Harry taking the position of Chief Impact Officer is his own solo gig though, fair enough. It’s not a full-time position, but I imagine Harry will legitimately want to do the work and be part of the team. I’m writing that like it’s far away in the future – as the CEO of Better Up says in a new interview, Harry has been working for the company since January.
Prince Harry started his first proper job at a Californian startup dubbed life coaching Tinder for millennials in January – but they waited to announce it until after his Oprah interview was watched by tens of millions around the globe, it was revealed today. The Duke of Sussex has been appointed ‘chief impact officer’ at mental health services business BetterUp by CEO Alexi Robichaux, who says his royal employee insists on everyone calling him Harry because they are all ‘partners’ in the business valued at $1.7billion.
Harry, whose new role at the firm could command a seven-figure salary plus share options, was introduced to the BetterUp co-founder through unnamed mutual friend last year, and after they weighed up ‘four buckets of opportunities’, they agreed to start working together, Mr Robichaux said today. He said: “He’s been in the role for a couple of months,” saying the company was “honored” to have its new hire. “He’s doing fantastic,” Robichaux said, admitting he had never before spoken to a member of royalty. “He’s got an incredible attitude and he’s filled with energy and enthusiasm — I have a feeling that he’ll work out,” he joked, saying he does not predict any “trouble” arising during the duke’s appraisal period.
He also praised the royal for refusing airs and graces among fellow staffers. “We’re partners here, he likes to be called Harry in the workplace, so we just address him as Harry,” Robichaux told the BBC. ‘We were just so impressed, and really I think there was such a natural chemistry and synergy around the insights and the contributions he can make creatively to BetterUp in ensuring that we achieve our mission. Bigger than commercial success, this is about global impact, and so as we crafted the role together, those four buckets of opportunities, we came to the title “chief impact officer”, really denoting that he’s focused on our mission and he’s focused on ensuring that we’re doing everything we can to achieve our mission on a bigger and larger and grander scale to impact the lives of more people.’
He added: ‘He’s also helping to work on everything from product design to product strategy, to co-creating content and the experience for our members and helping with partnerships, like creating some new content for our users related to mental toughness and mental fitness as well.’
However, the CEO refused to discuss how much Harry is getting paid by the firm that was recently valued at $1.73 billion. “As you can imagine as a private company, we don’t disclose any compensation for any employees and folks. And so we’re unfortunately, I’m not able to share that.” He also skirted revealing how many hours the duke will work, saying they were instead just worried about his “impact.”
“I’m not worried about hours. I’m worried about contribution and I’m worried about change and positive change,” he said.
[From Page Six & The Daily Mail]
I had to look at a few different sources to find all of the nice quotes. It was almost like the Daily Mail didn’t even want to print stuff like “He’s got an incredible attitude and he’s filled with energy and enthusiasm” and “We were just so impressed, and really I think there was such a natural chemistry…” Chemistry, charisma, a great attitude, full of energy, eager to work, eager to be part of the team. Sounds like Harry would be a tremendous asset to any company, any business, any Firm. Too bad his family business was so hateful, petty, abusive, racist and terrible. OH WELL!
Also: it warms my heart every time Harry & Meghan get to announce something on their terms and on their schedule. The Duke and Duchess of Montecito have their info on lockdown. Harry’s been working for Better Up since January and this week was the first whisper we even had about it.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Well, one thing is clear: Meg definitely is sponsoring Harry for a green card. He could not take this job otherwise. Good luck to him in his new roles and to both of them in their future endeavours.
What makes you say he couldn’t take this job without being sponsored for a green card?
I’d think a work Visa would be enough?
Not that I dislike the idea of Meg getting him a green card. I’m just confused about legalities?
I like that they seem to have surrounded themselves with loyal people now.
This link can answer any legal confusion.. https://www.usimmigration.org/faq/what-is-the-difference-between-a-green-card-and-a-visa
Harry is simply unqualified for the vast majority of nonimmigrant work visas, most of which are time-limited and dependent on a single employer to boot. Applying for a green card, however, allows him to get work authorization while his application is pending with USCIS and would allow him to be self-employed AND earn an income as an employee of a company such as BetterUp simultaneously. The timing of his work activities in the US strongly suggests that he did not obtain an immigrant visa through Meg’s sponsorship in Canada and enter the US as a permanent resident. Rather, he almost certainly applied for a green card after arriving in the US and is awaiting its adjudication by USCIS, which is horrifically backlogged due to Covid.
While it is not impossible for Harry to live and work part-time in the U.K. and maintain a US green card, it would not be easy. Not only would he and Meghan have taxation issues out the wazoo, but not living full-time in the US could cause issues for their children in the future. For example, even though Archie and their future daughter are US citizens by birth, if they do not spend sufficient time in the US prior to age 18, they could easily be unable to transmit US citizenship to their future children (Harry and Meghan’s future grandchildren) if they are born abroad. (Perhaps a U.K. lawyer could chime in on how the kids’ U.K. citizenship would be affected by their long-term residence in the US as well since I am not familiar with U.K. nationality law.)
It just makes me feel even more strongly that Meghan and Harry are not going back to the Windsor fold anytime soon and have decided to cast their lots here indefinitely. It also makes me feel like they intend to raise their children in the US, far far away from Salty White Folks Isle.
Otherwise, if there were a chance that they might return to at least some senior royal duties in the U.K., Harry could simply have gotten a renewable E-2 work visa to work for Archewell only. Regardless, I say good on him for showing everyone that he is not afraid of working for a living and earning his keep.
@BearcatLawyer — “It just makes me feel even more strongly that Meghan and Harry are not going back to the Windsor fold anytime soon and have decided to cast their lots here indefinitely. It also makes me feel like they intend to raise their children in the US, far far away from Salty White Folks Isle.”
Indeed. They have fulfilling, remunerative work, good friends who’ll stand by them, children to protect and nurture, and a lovely home in the United States. Why go back to the snake pit and a life of cutting ribbons and presenting plaques, standing aside to let others take “precedence” and credit for their hard work, abuse from the media, and a racist, unsupportive family? I wouldn’t be surprised if, as time goes on and PwBT ascends to the throne (if he does), that Harry pursues dual citizenship. I think it more likely with every new success in the USA and corresponding, growing vitriol from the UK.
I’m confused as well. Many British, Aussie and Canadian actors come here and are employed by Hollywood studios without having to wait on acquiring a green card first. Of course many choose to become residents or citizens eventually. I believe there is a carve out if a) no one else is qualified to perform the job – meaning they bring something unique to the table which no one else can b) if the job is not permanent/full time has an end date.
For the normal would be immigrant the process is more stringent,
Why would that be a big surprise? Getting a green card through your spouse is way faster and easier than through an employer or self-sponsoring. It would be pretty stupid of them not to take advantage of that. And permanent residency doesn’t mean he is giving up his UK citizenship. I guess it might “shock” anyone who thinks Harry isn’t intending to live in the US for a majority of the time, like if the BRF is still spinning it to themselves that he’s stuck over there because of the pandemic and if it wasn’t for Covid he’d be back in the UK full-time…but for most people paying attention I don’t think so.
My husband is Danish and a permanent resident here in California. He has a green card.
He still has his danish citizenship.
Both my kids have dual citizenship, which they won’t lose even if my husband became a u.s. citizen.
Harry could stay on a work visa, or could get a green card and still keep his British citizenship.
Not that he would ever lose it if he did become a U.S. citizen.
My ex in law’s are naturalized citizens of the U.S and also have their British citizenship and passports for both countries.
If you are born in England you never lose your citizenship, even when you renounce it to become a U.S. citizen.
You remain a british subject/citizen forever.
This – being a prince doesn’t mean you get to skip the line for work visas. This is much different than an endorsement deal where you come in do your thing on a temp visa and go home. This is an actual job which means I9s which means proof of legal residency or citizenship.
Wait until the Salty Isle figures it out – the freakout is going to be huge.
They are rich, well-known, and connected. Of course they can skip the line with a well-placed call here or there. I wish people would stop acting like there are visa robots and they cannot be manipulated by powerful people and everyone has to wait.
Whatever their situation is, Harry’s not getting deported. The ONLY difficult aspect of his immigration situation will be their finances.
Can’t wait! lol
I have heard that this (or maybe the Aspen job?) Is unpaid.
@Miss Jupitero
Did not know that this was unpaid. I just assumed with all the articles about it as a job that is was a paid thing.
The Aspen job is unpaid. This one is. The Daily Mail asked the CEO what they were paying him and they said it was confidential.
Not true, he’s potentially being sponcered by the company.
My ex father in laws company did that for multiple people coming from the middle east and europe, it was a aerospace design firm.
Or Harry could just pay, there is that option too.
See my additional comment above. Harry is not being sponsored by BetterUp for a nonimmigrant work visa or a green card. Besides the timing being impossible, he just in not qualified for the vast majority of US work visas.
That might have been H1B visa for specialy work. I work with a lot of people who are hired using that visa when there are tons of people un the US who have the skills (IT). I think big business keeps this going so the job market is flooded keeping pay down.
Of course she’s sponsoring him for a green card and of course they arent going back to the UK long term in the future and of course they arent going back as senior royals. I dont think just this job is the confirmation of that, I think the past year is, lol.
My bet is they applied for a spousal green card shortly after they arrived in the US from Canada. When my husband applied for his it took about a year to get. Following that time frame, he could have gotten it approved end of 2020 which is why he’s now taking paid work. He’s likely on a two year green card that will need to be reviewed and renewed after which he can apply for citizen when year 3 is up (if I recall correctly). During this time he’ll need to live in the US for a good majority of the time consistently in order to not lose his status. I doubt he would become a US citizen but will likely remain a permanent resident.
Very proud of Harry, and his mother would be too. He has a lovely personality and will get on very well with his colleagues. Well done Harry!
BECAUSE HE IS EXACTLY NOTHING LIKE HIS BROTHER.
Caplocks intentional. Sorry not sorry.
Checks out.
Able to get job and ably perform it. ✅
Able to set aside petty hierarchical notions. ✅
Able to get along with people not paid or otherwise expected to be nice to him. ✅
Willing to work full-time for a living and support himself and his family ✅
Out of all of the royals, Harry was the only one to not only have a job, but to keep it.
Just sayin.
Peter Phillips is shilling royal milk in China. Only the tiniest of pushbacks, for tackiness more than anything else. Beatrice has had jobs with ridiculous titles that let her take 9 vacations in 1 year. Zara trades on her royal status in Asia. Brooch Bitch writes novels with HRH on the title page. Fergie openly grifts for Andrew, steals from her daughters trust funds.
Harry gets a real job, does that job without anyone knowing it for 3 months, and the tabloids are baying for his blood.
Brits, come get your (leftover) royals. You let your best royal ambassadors go, and now you get to live with what you got.
Harry was already doing a real job with his 10 years in the military. He isn’t some pampered lad just discovering the realities of real life, he was already living it and preferred it. They need to stop acting like Harry is as unaccomplished and stupid as the Other Brother.
“Brooch Bitch”
Lanne, just want you to know Imma take this and use it in the future. Thank you and if I could give you a like, I would.
Zara also has endorsements in Australia. She represents a pram company and used her daughter in a video for it. Can you imagine if M&H did that?
I’m not sure how anyone classifies Kate as ‘working’ royal. She is an occasional drop in if she can dress up and have her picture taken.
Can I say I love Brooch Bitch? I will use that term exclusively now for that woman. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I just adore every story about H&M putting $ and validity in their accounts. Every new deal or partnership gets them further from that toxic white island.
Yessss! Away from that toxicity is proving to be good for their mental, as well as, physical state.
I love it too.
Suck it PWT
The Sussexes are living their best life and what a life it is!
I have always loved the Sussex style of action to back up the words.
So will the royal rota stop printing about how “lost” Harry is in his new life? Clearly he’s got plenty of interesting, engaging work going on, plus time to ride his bike and hang out at the beach with his wife and son. He appears plenty content to the thinking public.
Lol… They are still convinced he is crying in his tea every morning. Losers!
Salty white tears never dry up unfortunately. The British press’ lack of access is quite entertaining though. H&Ms successes must give the media over there ulcers.
I loved those pictures of Harry on his bike enjoying the California sun. Reminded me that I need a new bike; it’s getting warm here in SoCal.
The CEO was on every TV show yesterday, I think he recovered the salary he is paying Harry in one day, with all the exposure he got.
A pissy BM interviewer tried to find how much money Harry was being paid and if the position was made up for him, since it was not the CEO’s first rodeo, he handle it beautifully.
I’ve checked out BetterUp and am considering trying it out, so yeah this is great exposure for the company.
Yup, the attention this is bringing to the company is worth every penny they are paying Harry. I did see on CNN yesterday that Warner Bros contracts with Better Up for their employees, so its clear the company has a solid customer base without Harry’s involvement, but this will obviously help.
He is probably the first CIO to have this much impact on the first few months into the job.
You should see the hilarious spin that Other U.S. Blog put on this, making H out to be a lazy, talentless loser trading on his royal status who got rejected by other companies because had no skillz and yet wanted a gigantic paycheck, so he washed up at this company, where he’s antagonizing everyone and eating their lunches from the staff fridge in the breakroom (that last one may have been fudged slightly) and about to be fired any second. (Following on what Kaiser said, it’s funny how the H-is-a-loser version of this story didn’t break until now, if all of that was true…)
Which blog is this? I wanna read this comical story.
Blind Gossip. The H&M hatred (especially M) is intense over there, particularly in the comments. I’ve noted on other CB threads that I think BG is trolling for pageviews because the anti-H&M stories are so comically ridiculous and slanted (almost to the level of CDAN buffoonery), but it still draws intense hatred in the comments section. Be forewarned.
I assume it’s the Blind Gossip item “The New Elon Musk”. The dumb blind item sites know they get the most clicks from H&M haters so the items about them keep getting more deranged.
Blind Gossip started as a consolidator site for blind items elsewhere such as the more reliable Lainey Gossip and when Ted Casablanca was at E!. Then the site moderator declared that CDAN had lost all credibility, and dropped those posts, which readers had wised up to as lies anyway. Thus it tried to establish itself as a credible source. Then the site started posting its own blind items. Like CDAN’s Enty, Ace published many items they couldn’t all possibly be true. No one is that connected to that many stars around the world and in politics. Also, the blinds were clearly responding to headlines of the day to drive traffic, but couldn’t possibly be researched and resourced in a mere hours between headline and the blind post. It became clear pretty quickly it was a bunch of garbage.
Blind gossip is trash and I’ve long suspected the author is right wing.
Anyone who considers Harry lazy must consider the other brother to be comotose.
Reading that trash is like drinking poison. Why do it?
I really should take that advice.
Exactly @Merricat. Thank you. I won’t click on it. And I sort of side eye people who come on here and quote it in intense detail. I come here to avoid that toxic rubbish. Not see it repeated…
I actually think its safe to assume that meghan will be doing the most work for netflix and spotify. It is right up her street and what she’s been doing all this time (entertainment). Harry might throw in a documentary here and there but i feel like the bulk the producing is going to come from meghan. Then harry will have this job and both of them will tackle the charitable side of archewell. Plus their contracts with that speaking agency
I think they will be working together on Archewell, Netflix, and Spotify. Harry said they are a team and they are more powerful together. Besides, Harry brings as much to the table as Meghan does, maybe even more. He’s been building connections for years and knows some very powerful people as Gayle King confirmed. He was already familiar with Oprah, Bob Iger, Tyler Perry, the Bidens, and the Obamas. And who knows what other connections he’s made. This CEO seems to have met him once and started building a relationship from there and now Harry is on board for his company.
Agreed JT. Harry will contribute just as much for Netflix and Spotify. This job isn’t going to take up all of his time. He seems to be working remotely.
Which is all the more telling when Baldimort (whoever thought of that one, I Love It !) was out here complaining about not having any celebrity connections for projects he wanted to get off the ground.
It never once occurred to him that HE was the problem. If only they did not greet The Obamas in a room of racist art, Willnot and Cannot would have their phone number as well.
He’s also familiar with building organizations from the bottom up, eg the Invictus Games. This is nothing new for him.
So at first I thought Chief Impact Officer was a fancy way of saying,, “celebrity spokesman ” but then I read what the position entails. It’s really clear Harry wants to help develop this company and aid its growth.
I’m thinking Better Up must really have helped Harry. That the coach he got made a difference. I think that is the only explanation why this position seems to be more serious than a traditional celebrity spokesman job. Like, I wonder if Better Up wanted Harry as celebrity endorser, but Harry was like, “I can and want to do better than endorse– I want to help shape and promote the product at a deeper level cause it meant so much to me.”
Thats the vibe I get. Like I don’t see Better Up recruiting Harry for more than celebrity spokesman, cause I can’t see any company thinking someone like him would do more than that. I think once offered a spokesman job, Harry talked to the CEO and insisted on working out a meaningful role/partnership.
That would explain why the CEO is so impressed.
I think they really helped him, too. I want Archewell to produce a movie about a humble Better Up coach getting matched with someone who needs help and having that person be an actual prince and one of the most famous people in the world. I’d watch!
I agree! He probably had a hell of a lot to work through and that includes living a life outside of the micromanaged monarchy and creating a life of his own.
It would not surprise me if Harry not only had Better Up, but was also in therapy during this transition. Everything came 10 fold, really fast for him and his family and getting outside help ain’t nothing to sneeze at if you can afford it.
For quite some time now, I’ve had this strong feeling and I’m convinced
that Harry went back to college and got a legit degree. Don’t ask me why (cuz I really don’t know why I feel that way) but I’m convinced he did an online bachelors of some sort, I really do.
I was thinking he could do that but I don’t think he would have completed it already.
@Rapunzel says:
“…I don’t see Better Up recruiting Harry for more than celebrity spokesman, cause I can’t see any company thinking someone like him would do more than that…”
LOL Funny u should say that. Its fascinating how people, not knowing the breadth and depth of Prince Harry, choose always to err on the side of misreprentation/inaccuracy/downright falsehood about this man.
Heres my equally ignorant proposition: I wouldnt be surprised if, having been introduced by that mutual friend who introduced them some time last year; and after talking since last year abt BetterUp and its mission and abt H and his life’s work; and, the CEO being obviously interested in what H has to say, given theyve been talking for a year; it is my proposition that their confluence of interests became obvious, the natural result of which was H becoming a part of BetterUp.
I propose further that, with both H & M knowing that employment-at-a-9-to-5 is NOT the way to build wealth, that is it is highly likely that H has invested in BetterUp, in addition to being an officer of the company, as the CEO told us that he is.
The “officer of the corporation” comment from the CEO is the part in all this that stood out for me. That has a very specific meaning in corporate America, and it comes with real responsibilities. At this “firm” Harry is not a figurehead, or an empty shirt with a fancy title.
Carmen-Jamrock-
I think I wasn’t clear and you misunderstood me.
I wasn’t underestimating Harry. My comment had nothing to do with his abilities. I simply meant I wouldn’t expect any company to think they could employ royalty for a serious working position, as royals (at least the British ones) aren’t known for taking “real jobs.”
Harry fine and will do a bang up job here. For sure. I’d just be surprised if the CEO’s first thought was “make him an officer of the company.” It probably started with “this is what we do, and we’d like you to promote us if you like us” then turned into “i really like it and want to get more involved” with the CEO then saying, “well if your interested, I think you might fit as CIO”
I can only imagine how thrilling it is for Harry to earn his own money and not have to be beholden to his father or anyone else for funds. Go Harry!!
People were already saying this job is a farce and that he cant possibly work there because the commute is a killer.
That is so stupid. Like people haven’t discovered that business can still thrive long distance. Most people are working remotely right now.
On a shallow note, I can’t wait until H&M, Archie, and baby girl Montecito to show up in San Francisco.
Commute?! LMAO! Half of Silicon Valley now works remotely from states with lower taxes. The future is commuting from your breakfast nook to your home office in fuzzy slippers.
I guess those folks never heard of the internet huh? Imagine being able to meet with people when you’re not in the same location! Stay salty and bitter haters, lol!
I wonder if Harry’s BetterUp life coach or therapist (not sure exactly what the lingo is) worked with him on how to frame the mental health effects for him and Meghan and his family dynamics that were discussed on Oprah. It would make sense, given that Harry has said he uses their product himself, that he would have discussed it with him/her. It would actually be a bit odd if he hadn’t.
He’s always gone by Harry on his work projects, right? But the frequent references to his name got me thinking. If this kind of work is his future, they need a last name. Does his W2 say Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex? What will his eventual social security card and US passport say?
I’m guessing Moutbatten-Windsor like Archie or just Windsor. I think it will make more sense if the family unit had the same last name. I guess Sussex is a possibility as well.
Do you have to have a last name? Wouldn’t they just use the legal name on his birth certificate or passport?
I don’t think Harry has a last name, however I am not as knowledgeable as some of the CBers here.
I dont know if legally he’s Harry Mountbatten-Windsor or not, but growing up and in the army he was Harry Wales, Captain Wales, etc. I would not be surprised if he uses Sussex now, since Sussex is permanent (despite what the haters insist.)
I am interested with what the Cambridges will do – so I assume they go by Cambridge at school, but eventually they’ll be cornwall and then Wales (although that could be a long time coming if Charles holds off on it.) So George will be known as George Cambridge and then George Cornwall and then maybe George Wales? (at school etc). That seems weird to me. With William and Harry it wasnt a big deal, because they were always Wales, there was no change. But with George, charlotte and Louis it will change.
I love that they are running a tight ship with zero leaks from their staff. That is also why the “insider knowledge about why St-Laurent left” is ridiculous. The RR got no insider knowledge, all they have is suppositions and theories from camp Keen.
Go Harry, go live the American dream. It’s hilarious seeing the reaction of the salty bitches, The more they accomplish, the more it’s sinking in for the RF and the British media that they ain’t coming back.
Booked, Busy and Breaking the Bank!
Love it! So proud of them. The BM really wanted to see them begging on the streets.
Making those money moves! Love it. I love all of this. I love to see people succeed despite outside forces trying hard to crush them.
It speaks to the respect his coworkers have for him that no one leaked his position or the fact he’s been at it for 2 months. It’s hilarious watching the BM scramble to find its footing in this new era. And as has been stated up above, these jobs hint at Harry’s immigration status and the permanence of his move to the States. He ain’t coming back to Salty White Folk Isle.
I can’t wait for the BM to figure that out. I expect some “disrespecting the queen by seeking residency in the country he lives and raised his children in” articles. It’s going to be glorious.
I am really happy for Harry. He and Megs and their family including Doria deserve nothing but goodness.
Harry is living a fulfilled life, without the royal shackles. The royal rota is not happy with it
The Better Brother gets things done.
The amount of noise around this is incredible. This “first job” rhetoric is to undermine him, but seems ridiculous and hysterical. Not everyone who works at tech company are engineers and programmers, there are marketing teams and board members with different backgrounds. So basically they’re saying what the royals do is not work, but performance. People seem so shook by this, like writing editorials on start -up culture, how we can’t have mental- health apps, a lot of stuff that sounds like they haven’t really looked into what this company actually does.
How come the all knowing royal reporters weren’t aware of& report on this job? It’s almost as if..
Anyway I remember a poster here saying that Harry didn’t have his own thing going on& it would affect him as a man& therefore his marriage. This despite him having Sentabale, Invictus, Travalyst& few other patronages. Hopefully him having this and the Aspen role (and who knows what else) reassures that Harry has his own lane too.
My favorite response to this is that he has never done anything and has no record of success; it’s amazing how far up their butts some people have their heads.
Even if Harry did zero work for Sentabale, Invictus, Travalyst, etc, behind closed doors, he still showed up and knew how to promote/show dedication and support to a cause.
delete
This is the same kind of thing any company would say about an employee involved in a big pr push. But with Harry, I actually kinda believe it. I don’t think he’s a perfect person at all, but he is incredibly charismatic and does actually want to work. The CEO is probably stunned that a celebrity wants to do the job for real, and that comes through.
I’m happy that Harry has the perfect job for him.
Now I see why Harry and Meghan pushed for a decision from the royal family back in February-Harry already had a job that he started in January 2021-They informed the royal family in Feb. that they would not be returning to their seniors roles-Love their stealth in conducting their business-Best of luck to the Sussex family.