Archwell Execs Part Ways

[musingsinmidlife]

Following the departure of Rebeca Sananes (podcast producer) and Mandana Dayani (president) last month, Ben Browning (head of content) and Fara Taylor (marking lead) are also leaving Archwell. Ben had replaced Catherine St Laurent (chief of staff) who left in March 2021.

This brings the total staff who have left the Sussex team in the last 3 years to 17

That very much fits the "Cool Girl" vibe others have said she follows.

But it's one most actresses use tbf, unless they are incredibly strong willed & have a strong sense of self worth.

Did you get to the part where he says how well Harry is doing, that he puts himself down but he’s actually doing fantastically well? They both rib each other at other points. Don’t know how you came to your strange conclusion.

What is a "guy's girl" as she is described in the opening? Is it the same as a "cool girl"?

Spare gives us in spades Harry's inner dialogue and feelings and so is the key to unlock the recorded past plus my own confirmation bias as well.

Meghan looks self conscious and uncomfortable there. Definitely not letting go and being the character. Perhaps she has a cool vibe irl but not seeing it there.

Archewell is their joint business venture. Meghan is obviously winding down the company in anticipation that there won't be a conjoined Sussex brand within the next 2-4 years. It would make splitting business projects and communication issues easier. She will set up her own production company and work through that.

Do you mean she’s allowed Harry to fall on his sword so that she can rise and reinvent herself post divorce?

Looking at past performance, isn't there also a question of whether or not Archewell can afford all these high level salaries?

Obviously there's the income from Netflix/Random House, but that'll depend on whether it's ploughed into the foundation or simply kept, and while they're pretty keen on forming "partnerships" it's not clear whether those partners will want to fund the actual foundation itself

The Archewell website is exceedingly bare and contains very little information nor does it seem to have been updated regularly.

Archewell includes the Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio (her podcasts), and Archewell Productions (Netflix).

Staff leaving and Meghan and Harry taking over the executive must mean their projects are winding down now. They brought teams on board to get everything up and running and to get them established and now I guess they will mostly go it alone. Since their products so far have been all about themselves, I am not sure how much more they can do. Their story is told. Unless they can branch into a different market, it seems their companies have run their course.

The Archewell website is exceedingly bare and contains very little information nor does it seem to have been updated regularly

Yes I've noticed

Nothing could be fairer than to run the whole show themselves if that's what they choose to do; however I have to wonder if they have the necessary skills, and what they'll do to pay the bills now that so much has already been delivered

The book deal with Harry was a 3 or 4 book deal depending on what source you read. It seems he intends to write one about the Invictus Games, I am not sure of the others, Meghan maybe will keep doing her podcast but their big punching moments are done.

They were criticised for spending too much on staff. They did say they were going to cut staffing.

This article that came out a couple days ago mentions a few new hires. Particularly for their new series 'Unscripted' that is set for release in 2023. It is another Netflix special focused on the Invictus Games.

variety.com/2023/film/news/prince-harry-meghan-markle-archewell-hires-promotions-1235505004/

They had totally crap timing with the launch of Archewell as the pandemic arrived. I don't think it ever really got off the ground properly - certainly not the philanthropic side of it, where they are neither funders nor patrons in the usual sense, but just seem to float around on other people's projects. It would be good if they reinvigorated this, with a proper sense of purpose.

17 staff of how many? And how long do people typically stick in one post in that sector in Californis?

genius.com/Gillian-flynn-gone-girl-cool-girl-monologue-book-annotated

Wonder did they decide to leave before the announcement of the $3m donation from the Archewell fund of $13m, and the list as long as your arm of what they have done with that $3m.

I understand it's a report from Omid Scobie, but that is a long list they have said they have helped, however in context it means that each donation must have been miniscule and, to my mind at least, minimises the real work of each of those charities.

It's a bit like me saying that I am funding MSF to set up health care centres in half of Africa from my 20 quid a month donation.

They really don't seem to care much about their credibility.

Thank you.
You don't find me on the feminism board but hell would freeze over before I would have allowed myself to be described as a "guy's girl" at any stage of my life and in any context.

Hiding behind silly impact statements when what we actually need to know can be found in a one minute scan of those accounts they keep hidden. 😆

Scobie is now backpeddling....saying he was given wrong information in his journalist briefing from the Sussex team.

The Impact report is bizarre for a Foundation and may well be why 4 high level people bailed shortly before its release. The impact numbers in the report are for the entire work of the related charities - not for the impact of anything specifically Archewell related. It is very unusual to take credit for other charities work, beyond your own contributions.

For example the report says:

12.66 million COVID-19 vaccines procured for the global population through our partnership with Global Citizen.

Reality:
According to Global Citizen, the fundraising campaign by Archewell led to just over 500K in donations to Global Citizen, purchasing 107K vaccine doses.

And so on.
Report is here: archewell.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Archewell-Foundation-Impact-Report-2020-2022.pdf

I looked into the Equimundo partnership and the guide Equimundo / Boyhood Initiative they produced it is this page on their website. boyhoodinitiative.org/lets-talk/

Each of the 3 links takes you to 9 short saying.

While I am sure it is a useful tool, it would have cost 'pennies' to produce so I am surprised they highlight this on their highlight page as one of their accomplishments. I think it is highlighted because Equimundo helped promote the Archetypes podcast twitter.com/equimundo_org/status/1564273776090562569?lang=en

We really need a report on the impact of the impact report.

They keep digging. Truly astonishing.

Their formula is: I contribute like 1% and I take credit for 100%. For the real people with real problems, that is just "I don't have time for you" territory.

It’s very Trumpian, the way they claim credit

Apparently the $13 million dollars raised and the $3 million distributed is quite interesting.

$10 million comes from a single anonymous donor and it's a 'thing' in America for billionaires to donate large sums to 'charitable' foundations as there is a huge tax incentive to do so. As the donor they are the ones who choose where the donation goes...or not. So the money can sit there forever and who knows where it ends up.

So the theory is the $10 million donation actually comes from H&M themselves to (a) boost the profile of the foundation (b) give them a huge tax rebate (c) to remain in archwell bank account t u til such time as the couple need it. After all as donors only they can say how/if it is distributed.

Even faster turnover than their nannies