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Devin: What is your superpower?
Marcus: Dealing with failure.
Some of the most powerful voices in our culture come from the world of sports. Marcus Daniell, a decorated tennis player and Olympic bronze medalist, understands this better than most. He founded High Impact Athletes to channel that influence toward causes that measurably improve lives.
When I spoke with Marcus, he shared how the transition from tennis to philanthropy wasn’t sudden. As soon as he began earning enough from his career, he started giving back—carefully. "I didn't really trust the charities that I'd grown up around, and I wanted to do my own research," he said. That research led him to the concept of effective giving: doing the most good per dollar.
What started with a personal 1% pledge grew into something much bigger. "There was a greater purpose to the grind of being a tennis player," Marcus said. "Every match that I won had something bigger off the back of it."
That sense of purpose eventually inspired High Impact Athletes. Marcus guessed he’d have to persuade fellow athletes one by one, but the response surpassed expectations. "Very quickly it became obvious that there was a real appetite amongst the athlete community for something they could trust."
Today, the organization has over 230 elite athletes across 50 sports and 35 countries. They're not just giving—they're amplifying impact by inspiring fans to do the same. "Athletes have a place in society where they have a really powerful voice," Marcus explained. "They can cut through different levels of society."
The group recently partnered with High Rocks, a global fitness event series, to expand peer-to-peer fundraising. Participants can support causes like global health, climate change, mental health and women’s empowerment.
While High Impact Athletes isn’t currently running a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign, the model it showcases is one worth noting. It proves that purpose and influence can merge to make philanthropy more effective and more human.
The emotional impact is tangible. One athlete shared with Marcus that his High Impact Athletes key rings, earned for hitting donation milestones, were as meaningful as any sports medal. "That really touched me," Marcus said.
This isn’t just about giving. It’s about creating lasting meaning from influence—and Marcus is helping athletes do just that.
tl;dr:
Marcus Daniell shares how Olympic-level tennis success led him to a life of purpose-driven philanthropy.
High Impact Athletes empowers elite athletes to give effectively and mobilize fans for global good.
Marcus explains that charity effectiveness varies greatly, making donation impact a key focus for change.
Through partnerships like High Rocks, High Impact Athletes expands reach via peer-to-peer fundraising events.
Marcus reveals his superpower—dealing with failure—and how resilience fueled both his athletic and nonprofit journeys.
How to Develop Dealing with Failure As a Superpower
Marcus Daniell describes his superpower as the ability to productively deal with failure. He explains that this skill is essential for professional athletes, who face constant challenges and losses. “In order to be a successful tennis player, you must be able to deal with failure productively,” Marcus said during today’s episode. He emphasizes the importance of processing setbacks, learning from mistakes, and moving forward with renewed focus.
Marcus shared a moving example from the 2016 Rio Olympics. After losing a first-round tennis match with match points against Canada, he and his partner, Michael Venus, were devastated. Though it took hours to process the emotions, they eventually had a heartfelt conversation, owning their mistakes and vowing to return stronger. This commitment paid off, as the duo later earned a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a triumph Marcus cherishes deeply.
Tips for Developing Resilience:
Process Emotions: Allow yourself time to feel and understand your disappointment before moving on.
Own Your Mistakes: Acknowledge your role in setbacks without dwelling on them.
Commit to Growth: Use failure as a motivator to improve and set new goals.
Find Perspective: Compare challenges to broader contexts to reduce their emotional weight.
Focus on the Future: Create a tangible plan to move forward, shifting energy toward progress.
By following Marcus’ example and advice, you can make resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Marcus Daniell (he/him):
Founder and Executive Director, High Impact Athletes
About High Impact Athletes: At HIA we are transforming how sport serves the world.
We connect world-class athletes with world-class charities—organizations that bring a high-performance mindset to making positive change.
Our athlete community is a star-studded lineup of world champions, Olympic champions, world record holders and league professionals taking action and making a difference.
Despite sport's immense potential to drive change, there's a critical gap between possibility and reality.
Not all charities are created equal. Every year, billions flow into feel-good causes and foundations with limited outcomes, chasing nice stories over tangible progress. Less than 1% of global philanthropy follows the data to identify and support the highest-performing charities.
Athletes have seized their place, not just in sport, but in society, leading conversations and commanding global attention on and off the field. Given the right platform, they can inspire the world to solve two critical problems in philanthropy: how much we choose to give, and where our giving goes.
Website: highimpactathletes.org
X/Twitter Handle: @HIAorg
Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/HIAorg
Other URL: raceforimpact.com/en
Biographical Information: Marcus Daniell is a celebrated New Zealand tennis player and Olympic medalist whose career exemplifies excellence on and off the court. Rising to a career-high ATP doubles ranking of World No. 34, Daniell captured five ATP titles and earned a coveted bronze medal in men’s doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Known for his sportsmanship and powerful presence on court, he competed at the highest levels of the sport, reaching Grand Slam quarterfinals and representing New Zealand in numerous Davis Cup ties.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Daniell has distinguished himself as a leading advocate for effective altruism in sport. He founded High Impact Athletes, a nonprofit connecting elite athletes with the world’s most effective charities, and pledged to donate at least 10% of his lifetime earnings to high-impact causes. His leadership has garnered respect across the tennis world and beyond, including election to the ATP Player Council.
Residing in New York and recently retired after a 17-year professional career, Daniell remains a powerful voice for using sport as a platform for good. His legacy continues to inspire both on the court and through his visionary work in philanthropy.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Daniell
X/Twitter Handle: @marcusdaniell
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/marcus-daniell-oly%F0%9F%94%B8-313b6893/
Instagram Handle: @marcusdaniellnz
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Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on July 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.
SuperCrowdHour, July 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "Balance Sheets & Beyond: The Impact Investor’s Guide to Financials." If terms like “income statement” and “cash flow” make your eyes glaze over, this session is for you. Devin will break down the fundamentals of financial statements in clear, simple language—perfect for beginners who want to better understand the numbers behind the businesses they support. Whether you're a new investor, a founder navigating financials, or simply curious about how money moves through mission-driven companies, you'll leave this session more confident and informed. Don’t miss it!
SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition, but with big upgrades for 2025! We’ll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. VIP’s get access to our better-than-in-person networking! Get your VIP access for just $25. A select group of affordable sponsorship opportunities is still available. Learn more here.
Community Event Calendar
Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.
Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.
Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com’s monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.
Future Forward Summit: San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25 · 3:30 - 8:30 pm PDT.
Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.
Impact Accelerator Summit is a live in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.
Call for community action:
Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.
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