Building the next generation of Japanese entrepreneurs - #MyGivingStory - Sasha Lee Seals

From student to teacher to an entrepreneur changing the world, one child at a time. Sasha Lee Seals, a Jamaican native, has been working and living in Japan for over twenty years! We here at Giving Tuesday Japan got the exclusive opportunity to interview her about her experience living in Japan, teaching and raising children here, and what her goals for the future are.

Take a look at the My Giving Story interview between Sasha and our Global Community Team Leader, Jasmine, below!

Jasmine: Hi, Sasha! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of our questions and share your journey thus far. Let's just jump right in and get started. What inspired you to come to Japan?

Sasha: When I was in university, I was in Kingston and saw women dressed in a style very different from what I was used to seeing in Jamaica. I spoke to them, and they told me they were from Japan and were Harajuku girls. That was my first encounter with Japanese culture—not through anime or media, but through fashion. I became fascinated and wanted to come to Japan to experience the Tokyo fashion scene firsthand, and that was what initially brought me to Japan.

Jasmine: Amazing! That must have been a unique experience. So, after coming to Japan, how did you find yourself in Nagareyama LEAD? For those reading but don't know what Nagareyama L.E.A.D. is, can you explain it for us, and who founded it?

Sasha: Nagareyama L.E.A.D. was founded by a group of friends who have lived in Japan for over 20 to 30 years and wanted to give back to the country that became their home. All of the founders have either run businesses or worked in the fields of entrepreneurship and education, and each of us has a history of volunteering with children—whether in Jamaica, the Czech Republic, Africa, or Japan.

When we came together, we decided to create Nagareyama L.E.A.D. I, Sasha Lee Seals, serve as the Representative Director because I had the vision to bring everything together, but the heart of Nagareyama L.E.A.D. is the amazing team that trusted me and chose to build this program together.

Nagareyama L.E.A.D. is an entrepreneurship program for children aged 10 to 14—equivalent to 5th grade of elementary school through 2nd grade of junior high school.

The program focuses on developing four essential skills:

• Entrepreneurship

  
  

• Leadership

  
  

• Problem-solving

  
  

• Creativity

It is divided into three sections:

• Self-Discovery

  
  

• Business Basics

  
  

• Problem Solving

While the program is centered around business concepts, its true purpose is to cultivate critical thinking skills in children—skills that will serve them not only now but also in the future if they ever choose to pursue entrepreneurship.

Jasmine: That sounds amazing. What inspired you to start Nagareyama L.E.A.D.? Also, What does L.E.A.D. stand for?

Sasha: L.E.A.D. stands for

Leadership,

Entrepreneurship,

Authenticity, and

Diversity.

Nagareyama L.E.A.D. wasn't exactly "inspired" in the traditional sense—it felt more like a calling.

I am a trained educator who studied education in Jamaica and started my career as a business studies teacher. Supporting children has always been at the heart of everything I do, and that is what lies at the core of Nagareyama L.E.A.D.

My own children attend public school here in Japan, and they receive a great education. However, I noticed something missing.

In Jamaica, it is a cultural phenomenon for children to start thinking about their future careers as early as six years old.

While it may seem early, it encourages young people to set goals and dream big from a young age—we even have "Career Days" at school.

With a sense of respect for my background as an educator, I wanted to contribute to Japan by helping children start thinking about their futures earlier, before they enter high school.

That desire—to empower children to envision their future paths early—is what called me to create Nagareyama L.E.A.D.

Jasmine: What is your mission? What activities within the program do you feel cause students to feel empowered?

Sasha: The mission of Nagareyama L.E.A.D. is to create the first step toward building the next generation of Japanese entrepreneurs.

Many of us remember Japan during the bubble era, and we know firsthand the greatness and potential of the Japanese people.

We want to be part of the foundation, starting in elementary school, encouraging children to think about the problems they want to solve in their world.

Simply put, our mission is to build the mindset of future nation builders.

The activity that I believe most empowers the children in our program is the first part: self-discovery.

Even as adults, many of us don't get the chance to truly understand how we work best, how we learn best, or what environment brings out our best results.

That's why at the beginning of the Nagareyama L.E.A.D. program, we focus on helping students discover:

Whether they thrive individually or in groups

Whether they are creative or analytical

Whether they are natural leaders or supportive team members

We empower them by teaching them that whatever they are, it is perfectly okay—they simply need to present their best selves.

This process of self-discovery builds confidence and, I believe, is the most important reason why students leave the program feeling empowered and ready to take on challenges.

Jasmine: Who is the target audience for Nagareyama L.E.A.D.?

Sasha: Our current program is designed for children in the 5th grade of elementary school through junior high school who want to explore what their future could look like.

We aim to nurture children who are not afraid to ask questions, who are confident, creative, capable, and empowered to speak up and make a difference in the world.

Nagareyama L.E.A.D. is about giving young people the mindset and tools they need to step boldly into their future.

Jasmine: Since coming to Japan you have branched into a lot of different fields. Which of the skills you have gained from your previous jobs in Japan has proven to be invaluable since you started Nagareyama L.E.A.D.?

Sasha: The skills that have proven to be most invaluable in starting Nagareyama L.E.A.D. are networking and the ability to work with people who have diverse ways of thinking.

After coming to Japan, I initially taught elementary school children in the countryside for two years. It was there that I realized how amazing, creative, and eager to learn Japanese students are at that age.

Later, I transitioned into the role of an executive recruiter in the fashion industry—a highly competitive field. Working at Boyd & Moore with a truly global team taught me not only how to communicate but, more importantly, how to listen deeply. I also learned how to build teams, a skill that has been essential ever since.

When I moved to the city, I launched my own business, Yumm Cupcakery in Nagareyama. Running a full-scale B2B and B2C operation taught me the end-to-end process of business development.

Following that, I worked in the non-profit sector, where I received a masterclass in organizational development and technology adoption—thanks especially to Ayanna Coleman, our COO, who taught me how to set up efficient systems like Trello and Slack.

All of these experiences have been crucial in helping me build an incredible team.

And Nagareyama L.E.A.D. could not exist without this amazing team:

• Blanka Kobayashi (Director of Communications): A brilliant communicator from the Czech Republic who ensures our message reaches the world.

• Henry Seals (Head of Business Development and Finance): With over 30 years of experience in Japan, he brings a wealth of business and financial expertise.

• Rebecca Kato (Head of Curriculum Development): A principal at YMCA with advanced studies in education, including curriculum development at Harvard University.

• Allison Rogers (HR and Operations): An entrepreneur and inventor with business management experience from the U.S., supporting our organizational operations.

• Aria Miyai (Legal Advisor): Raised and educated in Japan, she helped establish our legal framework and asset documentation.

Beyond the core team, we are blessed with exceptional volunteers who have rallied around Nagareyama L.E.A.D.—people drawn by the mission to nurture Japan’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

Jasmine: What services does Nagareyama L.E.A.D. offer? What types of services would you like to add in the future? What areas are your services available in? Do you plan to expand?

Sasha: Currently, Nagareyama L.E.A.D. offers a 12-week entrepreneurship education program for children.

This program helps students build a foundation in business strategy and ensures that they graduate with strong AI literacy skills.

In addition to the core program, we are also committed to community building.

Recently, we organized an Easter Egg Hunt, and we continue to create events that support families and help parents better understand potential barriers their children may face—and how to overcome them.

As for expansion, we are currently negotiating with Nagareyama City to integrate elements of Nagareyama L.E.A.D. into the official education system.

At the same time, we are in discussions with other municipalities about implementing Nagareyama L.E.A.D. in their cities.

Of course, we do not expect immediate city endorsements; rather, we plan to advertise locally and independently implement the program, city by city, creating a movement of young entrepreneurs across Japan.

Looking to the future, we plan to digitize the program and gamify the learning experience.

Within the next 5 years, we aim to create a platform where children can learn, play, and think creatively about entrepreneurship—making education not just informative, but truly fun and engaging.

Jasmine: We live in such a fast-paced society, and technology has become an essential part of our existence. What skills would you say are essential for the future?

Sasha: That's a really interesting question.

No matter what happens in the world, I believe critical thinking is the most important skill we can ever have.

Knowledge can always be acquired, but critical thinking is what allows us to combine that knowledge and actually put it to use.

For example, in the past, we had to learn typewriting skills. Today, AI skills are absolutely essential.

AI is here to stay—it won't go back into a bottle.

But even with AI, some people will benefit more than others, and the difference will come down to critical thinking—the ability to assess, adapt, and creatively apply the information AI provides.

Creativity will always remain vital.

If we look at every problem the same way, the solutions we find won't be impactful.

However, when each individual brings their own creativity to the table, the possibilities become endless.

Additionally, even in a world where AI can do so much, collaboration will always be necessary—not just for effective work, but for our mental well-being.

Building and maintaining community is incredibly important for human resilience and happiness.

Finally, self-expression is an essential skill for the future.

It’s not just about art or music—it's about how we communicate, how we express our ideas, and how we connect with others.

No matter where you are in the world, the ability to express yourself will always be crucial.

Jasmine: Does Nagareyama L.E.A.D. have any upcoming events?

Sasha: Yes, we have some exciting events coming up!

In May, we will be hosting an event in Nagareyama City to teach parents how to use AI in their daily lives.

We will also have a guest speaker who runs an AI company here in Japan, sharing her insights and experiences.

Our goal for this event is to help parents understand the importance of AI and how it can be used to better support their children.

Then, in September, we will launch our Fall Nagareyama L.E.A.D. Program!

This is a 12-week program starting in mid-September.

As long as participants can come to Nagareyama and attend at least 60% of the sessions, they are warmly welcome to join us!

Jasmine: Have you heard of or participated in Giving Tuesday before coming to Women's Impact Weekend? Is there anything you would like to do in the future in collaboration with Giving Tuesday? How can we (Giving Tuesday Japan) support Nagareyama L.E.A.D.?

Sasha: Yes, I had heard of Giving Tuesday even before I met the amazing staff at Women of Impact.

The way we would like to support Giving Tuesday is by getting the word out about what we do—meeting with different groups, sharing our mission, and helping people understand why we created Nagareyama L.E.A.D., what we bring to the table, and how we can support the community.

Additionally, if there is a group of people who become interested in Nagareyama L.E.A.D. through Giving Tuesday, we would be happy to offer a quick, abridged version of our program to support Giving Tuesday’s efforts.

We truly appreciate the opportunity to connect and collaborate. Thank you so much!

Jasmine: Sasha! Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story with us! We can't wait to see what you do next!

Learn more about the Nagareyama Lead here: https://nagareyamalead.com/

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