Prince Harry is celebrating a pretty major milestone: The former senior royal has officially been named the chief impact officer for the mental health app BetterUp. Most members of the royal family don't have what one would call "regular" jobs, and the move is definitely a clear sign that Harry intends to take his life as a civilian quite seriously.
It turns out Harry was a fan of BetterUp before he joined the team; he has been working with his own coach on the app for months. He told the Wall Street Journal that he's looking forward to the experience of being on the team because he truly believes in the service the app offers.
"I intend to help create impact in people's lives. Proactive coaching provides endless possibilities for personal development, increased awareness, and an all-round better life."
Harry went on to add that he loves the service the app provides:
"I was matched with my coach who, quite frankly, is truly awesome and has always given me sound advice and a fresh perspective, which is so valuable."
While the exact details of Harry's role, including how much he'll be paid, haven't been revealed, it turns out that Harry was introduced to BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux last year. People also reports that Harry will spend time in San Francisco, where the company is based.
Harry also used his interview with the Wall Street Journal as an opportunity to speak about mental health in general:
"This is about acknowledging that it isn't so much what is wrong with us, but more about what has happened to us over the course of life."
He added, "Often because of societal barriers, financial difficulty, or stigma, too many people aren't able to focus on their mental health until they're forced to. I want us to move away from the idea that you have to feel broken before reaching out for help."
BetterUp, which was founded in 2013, "uses technology and science to enrich the coaching experience, empowering people to learn new skills, conquer their goals, ignite fresh passions, and become the best version of themselves."
Earlier this year, Alexi Robichaux gave an interview to CNBC that offered a more detailed explanation of what kind of work he does. CNBC writes that Alexi considers himself a "career coach to career coaches" and that he especially loves working with people on job interviews.
BetterUp chief marketing officer Cindy Goodrich has also praised both the company and its CEO, and it sounds like Harry will be in a good spot when he is in town:
"BetterUp is on a mission to unlock the human potential in every person. That commitment starts with BetterUp employees, who model the 'whole person' culture that we strive to help our customers and Members achieve. As our CEO Alexi Robichaux has said, 'Good knowledge work is about how you think, not just what you do. And, how you think isn't outer work. It's inner work.'"
