Marcel Johnson

THE POWER OF CREATIVITY. For Marcel Johnson, creativity has always been a through line to problem-solving and creating opportunities, serving as a guiding principle throughout his life. As the Founder and Head of Product & Operations for Diall, Marcel developed one of the first aggregate speed dials for mental health crisis support services in the US, making help readily accessible when it mattered most. But his story begins long before Diall, rooted in a childhood filled with challenges and a drive to create positive change.

Growing up in the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts, Marcel was the youngest of four brothers with a religious upbringing. His childhood was shaped by the pressures of fitting into societal expectations while grappling with his identity. “I grew up with the mindset of you go to school, you get a job, and you get married—the American dream,” Marcel recalls. The loss of his father in third grade added another layer of complexity to his early years.

Despite these challenges, Marcel found solace and support in his education. His time at Hobart College further fueled his curiosity and desire to connect with different people and cultures, studying abroad in Spain and spending time in Mexico. “It was a way of nurturing something that was important to me,” he notes.

Marcel’s early career working at an asset management company, laid the foundations for his professional journey. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social injustices highlighted by the death of Ahmaud Arbery were pivotal moments for Marcel. “It had such a negative impact on my mental health. Dealing with that while still trying to show up to work was frustrating, challenging, and infuriating,” he recalls.

These experiences led Marcel to launch Diall in 2020. Diall aimed to bridge the gap in mental health support, providing an aggregated speed dial for mental health crisis services. “When you’re in a crisis, you’re probably not going to remember the number to the suicide hotline or Trevor Project,” Marcel explains. Diall evolved into a comprehensive platform offering educational resources and streamlined technology for therapists, making mental health care more accessible and effective.

Marcel’s journey as a founder was deeply influenced by his identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. “I spent so much time trying to hide it... All of these emotions were flooding me, and I remember just being very empty and feeling like I needed someone who wasn’t there,” he says. Coming out to his family in 2015 was a turning point and allowed Marcel to fully embrace his authentic self and channel his energy into his work. “It allowed me to get out of my own way and gave me the confidence to bet on myself,” he adds.

Reflecting on his journey, Marcel emphasizes the importance of patience and celebrating both successes and failures. “You can always control your inputs, but you can’t always control the outputs,” he says. Marcel also highlights the importance of understanding and establishing support systems. “I always call it having your own board of trustees, people you can rely on and who challenge and support you in different ways,” he advises.

BUILDING BRIDGES. As Diall dissolves, Marcel is focused on his next venture—supporting diverse founders. “I’ve learned a lot through my entrepreneurial journey,” he says. “Right now, I am exploring what it looks like to build that support for founders who are stepping into this entrepreneurial journey.”

For new founders in the early stages of their own venture, Marcel offers: “Don’t lose your why. Always ask yourself why you are doing this and what you want the outcome to be.” For Marcel, the why is clear: “Every relationship, every interaction has the potential to change someone’s life. Whether through building a company or living authentically, that’s the why.”