It’s tough being a captain of industry, and no number of rides on the company’s very own private jet can change that.

With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Santos chief Kevin Gallagher isn’t the first and won’t be the last corporate tycoon to see value in paying for some vital personal validation. Nonetheless, when it comes to that sort of thing, organisational psychologist Vanessa Vershaw – who bills Santos for coaching, performance and team-building services – is in a league of her own.