Prince Harry opens up about ‘pressures of today’s world’ in life-coaching session on ‘burnout’ & poses with TV star
PRINCE Harry has opened up about the “pressures of today’s world” during a life-coaching session.
The Duke of Sussex spoke to a crowd about “burnout” at life-coaching firm BetterUp’s recent summit in San Francisco.
Harry is the company’s chief impact officer and looked thrilled to be a part of the event where he met The Office star Mindy Kaling.
The Duke was snapped beaming alongside the well-known actress as they embraced.
Mindy, star of The Mindy Kaling Show, had previously appeared on Meghan’s axed Spotify podcast, Archetypes.
Harry appeared in his usual smart-casual attire, wearing a grey suit jacket, open with a plain white shirt and dark jeans.
He was joined by Dr Adam Grant, BetterUp’s chairman of the ‘Center for Purpose and Performance’, and Kelly Jones, ‘chief people officer’ at technology firm Cisco.
During his session, titled Beyond Burnout: Transforming C-Level Stress Into Strength, Harry helped to examine how business leaders can best manage unique stress situations.
According to the Sussex website, the session examined “how C-level leaders manage the unique pressure of their roles, build resilience, and foster a culture that supports sustainable performance”.
It continued to say Harry and his fellow panellists dove into the “psychological toll of leading through uncertainty” and explained how they shared their own personal stories as well as evidence-based practices and forward thinking policies.
It’s said the actions were aimed at helping leaders to thrive under the current pressures they may face.
The event – called the ‘Uplift Summit’ – “centred on courageous leadership” and provided a “unique forum for C-suite leaders, business executives, and HR professionals and advocates”.
Kaling also spoke at the summit during a discussion on how to lead with “levity and creativity”.
The Office star added how she had been raising her children Katherine, six, and Spencer, three, under the principle of “gentle parenting” – but was reconsidering this.
According to Hello! magazine, the actress was asked a series of quickfire questions by Dr Grant, one of which was: “What are you rethinking lately?”
In response, Kaling said: “Gentle parenting, I am rethinking. It’s this thing lots of LA and NY and certain progressive cities do, and sometimes you just have to scream at your kids… so I am rethinking it!”
Harry first took on the role with mental health firm BetterUp in March 2021, eight years after the company was founded.
His position was made public just weeks after his explosive Oprah Winfrey interview.
According to the company’s website, it has a network of over 3,000 coaches who offer advice and help in 60 languages across 70 countries.
However, it’s alleged Harry’s involvement hasn’t been met with wide appreciation with one former employee previously telling the Daily Beast that his involvement had become somewhat of a “distraction”.
In August last year it was reported that BetterUp staff had questioned Harry’s role at the company.
Staff allegedly turned on the Duke – who reportedly earns a seven-figure salary at the firm– after more than 100 San Francisco-based BetterUp employees were laid off earlier that year.
According to The Daily Beast, the Duke became a “target” for angry BetterUp staff.
A former employee said he initially thought Harry’s arrival was ‘cool’.
But they added that staff soon began to find him a distraction with many fearing his ongoing dramas might impact on the company’s reputation.
Another alleged that the company treat staff poorly while pushing “woke” credentials.
The Duke of Sussex stepped down from the Royal Family four years ago with the relationship with his family fracturing further since.
Their relationship has only worsened after the Sussexes made a number of accusations against the Royal Family in their Netflix docuseries.
But a reunion could be possible when the Duke visits the UK in May to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
It would be Harry’s first time in Britain since his sister-in-law, Princess Kate announced she is receiving preventative chemotherapy for cancer after abdominal surgery in January.
Harry and Meghan said at the time: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
What is 'BetterUp'?
BetterUp was founded in 2013 and provides mobile-based professional coaching, counselling and mentorship
Its website says it has a network of more than 3,000 coaches offering coaching in 60 languages across 70 countries.
Harry took on the job about two weeks after the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The role was one of Harry’s moves into business after he and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in March 2020 in what was dubbed ‘Megxit’.
Harry’s publicly known work at BetterUp appears to mostly comprise of speaking engagements.