BetterUp hires Prince Harry as its first chief impact officer

Just weeks after making headlines after the closure of a $125 million Series D, BetterUp is in the news again.

According to an exclusive by the Wall Street Journal, the coaching and mental health company has hired the Duke of Sussex as its first chief impact officer.

This new role will be the Duke's first entry into the world of work (and HR tech), after he, and his wife, former actress Meghan Markle, stepped down as full-time working members of the British royal family.

Prince Harry said in a blog post:

"As BetterUp’s first Chief Impact Officer, my goal is to lift up critical dialogues around mental health, build supportive and compassionate communities, and foster an environment for honest and vulnerable conversations. And my hope is to help people develop their inner strength, resilience, and confidence.""As BetterUp’s first Chief Impact Officer, my goal is to lift up critical dialogues around mental health, build supportive and compassionate communities, and foster an environment for honest and vulnerable conversations. And my hope is to help people develop their inner strength, resilience, and confidence."

As part of his new role, the WSJ says Prince Harry — an advocate for mental health and wellbeing — is expected to focus on driving advocacy and awareness for mental fitness, guiding BetterUp's social mission and impact, influence the vision of BetterUp's platform, and expand BetterUp's global community of thought leadership, coaches, customers, and members.

The news comes weeks after Prince Harry's and Meghan Markle's high-profile interview with Ophra Winfrey during which the couple discussed racism allegations and the subsequent toll on their mental health.

COVID-19 has shone the light on mental wellbeing and the need for employers to look after employees, particularly when they are working remotely.