He has spoken repeatedly about his need to make a living, and on Wednesday night, Prince Harry did just that: sit down for a live-streamed chat to promote one of his contracts.
The 39-year-old spoke to the CEO of online coaching company BetterUp, Alexi Robichaux, at the end of a meeting of HR professionals coordinated by the company.
Harry was hired as Chief Impact Officer of the San Francisco-based start-up in March 2021, for an undisclosed fee.
And on Wednesday, he diligently promoted the brand, telling Robichaux he offered BetterUp’s services to all his employees at his own company Archewell, adding, “I’ve seen firsthand what coaching can do.”
Harry carefully steered clear of controversial topics, delivering vanilla answers during a 30-minute session that would have caused his press advisers to breathe a sigh of relief.
There will probably be few personal revelations left after his explosive memoir Spare, which talked about royal family feuds, Harry’s cocaine use – and even the loss of his virginity to an older woman.
Prince Harry took part in a live-streamed conversation with the founder of coaching firm BetterUp on Wednesday night, which appointed him Chief Impact Officer in March 2021
Harry spoke with Alexi Robichaux, who co-founded the company in 2013
Perhaps the most remarkable note was played by the emcees and comperes, who performed a chilling rap before the Prince and Robichaux took the stage, musing on the price of eggs.
A member of the warm-up act invited a woman on stage and first asked her about her favorite pronouns – inviting her to recount her day at the convention.
Harry and Robichaux then took the stage – both gentlemen in jeans and jackets.
“Alexis is going to start with a rap,” Harry joked.
Members of the public were invited to submit written questions, and the pair then embarked on a self-indulgent discussion about the company.
Rappers took the stage to entertain the crowd of HR professionals before the Prince and Robichaux appeared
Robichaux welcomes Harry on stage
Robichaux was asked why he hired the prince.
He said he and his co-founder, Eddie Medina, asked themselves an important question.
“Who are celebrities in the world, who are leaders, who are talking about this — and it was a very, very short list,” Robichaux said.
“Actually, it was one person.”
Robichaux told Harry, “It was a dream come true to work with you.”
The Prince was a little less than thrilled when asked why he had started working with BetterUp and replied, “Because that’s all I’ve been offered.”
Laughing, he then said he appreciated BetterUp’s focus on both doing good and making a profit.
When asked what role coaching had played in his life, Harry did not mention the immense family trauma he recently revealed in his memoir, Spare, but said it was his time in the military that showed the power of coaching.
“But I promise we won’t yell at you,” he said. “Unless you asked.”
Harry answered questions submitted in writing by attendees
The 38-year-old steered clear of controversial topics in his 30-minute chat
He made a brief reference to “my wife,” but did not expand.
Asked about holding the event on International Women’s Day, Harry praised the women in his life – and seemed to take a slight swipe at his father, King Charles, and brother Prince William, whom he described in his book.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by strong, powerful, confident women all my life,” he said.
“I wish more women were in senior management positions. Less testosterone in the chamber, which I think would be a good thing.”
He also referred to his kids – Archie, three, and Lilibet, who turns two in June.
“Children ground you,” Harry said.
‘The longer you’re there, the more filters you have in life.’
The pair joked throughout the rest of the session — a dialogue filled with Silicon Valley buzzwords, with Robichaux announcing at one point that he wanted to do “plus one thing you said.”
A stunned Harry asked, “Pus?!”
Robichaux replied, “Plus. Add to it and make it a little better.’
Robichaux urged attendees to “rethink work as a playscape” and “instill awe in your staff.”
Harry added: ‘For me personally, I get so much out of helping other people.
“That’s what gets me out of bed every morning.”
It’s not Harry’s first attempt to promote the brand.
In February 2022, he sat down with Robichaux and Serena Williams to discuss the company at another live-streamed event.
And in July 2022, he interviewed three different people for a short film — including two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim — about their own mental health practices while promoting the company’s online life coaching services.
“We all have greatness in us,” the father of two says at the beginning of the five-minute film.
“Mental fitness helps us unlock it. It’s an ongoing practice, one where you approach your mind as something to bend, not to fix.’