THE PIONEERS OF THE FIRST HOUR.

Why I joined

I founded my first company at 24 and learned what burnout means at 27. Nobody had ever taught me how to handle pressure – I had to piece it together on my own. I want my two daughters to get those tools at school, not in a crisis. That's why I'm in the Founders Circle: 100 kids a year who learn earlier what I learned too late.

Why I joined

As a ski racer I was in the World Cup at 19 and out at 23 after tearing my ACL. My body healed; my head took a lot longer. Back then I needed someone to tell me that self-doubt is normal – biology, not weakness. That's exactly what the WorldChanger Foundation brings into classrooms today. I support it because I know how much one honest sentence at the right moment can change.

Why I joined

In my practice I see children every day with stomach aches, sleep problems and headaches – with no virus behind them, just pressure to perform. I can treat, but I can't prevent; I don't have access to the classroom. The Foundation does exactly that step before: prevention, before pressure becomes a problem. What convinced me was that the modules are science-based and translated for kids. To me my contribution isn't a donation, it's preventive care.

Why I joined

I've been training apprentices for 20 years and I notice: their craft is as good as ever, but many find it harder to handle criticism and setbacks than before. That's not a complaint about young people – it's a job for us. What I like about the WorldChanger Foundation is that it doesn't talk, it counts: 10 euros, one child, one module. I know that clarity from my own business. As a Founding Member I want to lay a foundation, the way we do on every build.

Why I joined

Professionally I evaluate founding teams and I know what scaling takes: a clear product, measurable results, people with drive. The Foundation has all three – an NPS of 81 on the pilot module speaks for itself. Privately I have three kids between 9 and 15 growing up with Instagram and grade pressure. I can't spare them every comparison, but I can make sure they and their classmates learn how to deal with it. For me the Founders Circle is the best investment with the clearest return.

Why I joined

I've been teaching for eight years and was a pro athlete before that – both showed me how tightly mindset and performance are linked. School simply has no room in the curriculum for mental strength, even though it would matter most. I experienced a WorldChanger module at our school and saw how quiet a room gets when a role model speaks honestly about fear of failure. No worksheet can do that. I'm a Founding Member so that moment happens in as many classrooms as possible.