At Nagareyama L.E.A.D., we often say that leadership starts with mindset—not job titles. This belief is at the heart of everything we do with our students, and now, it’s being recognized on a national stage.

We’re thrilled to share that our founder, Sasha Lee Seals, and the story of how L.E.A.D. came to be were recently featured on the Giving Tuesday Japan blog. The article—part of their #MyGivingStory series—beautifully captures Sasha’s journey from high school business teacher in the U.S. to founder of a youth leadership movement in Japan.

What began as a spark—a question, really: How do we prepare children for a future that doesn’t exist yet?—has since grown into a full-fledged bilingual program serving 10–14-year-olds through our “Hero Lab” sessions. Students explore real-world problems, design their own ventures, and grow as Heropreneurs: brave, curious, kind-hearted young changemakers.

In the article, Sasha shares how moving to Japan transformed her understanding of education, culture, and community—and how L.E.A.D. became a response to the rigid pressures so many young people face. Rather than waiting until high school or adulthood to learn confidence, leadership, and entrepreneurship, Sasha saw an opportunity to start earlier—and to do it in a way that honors both global best practices and Japanese values.

You’ll also get a glimpse into what happens inside the L.E.A.D. classroom: from Meishi-koukan games that teach relationship-building, to AI literacy sessions that introduce ethical tech use, to heartfelt team presentations during our Heropreneur Rising Ceremony. Most of all, the feature highlights the students themselves—what they’ve built, what they’ve learned, and how they’re already making a difference.

One quote from Sasha especially sticks out:

I realized I didn’t need to wait to change the world. I just needed to start small, with what I had, and who was in front of me.

That’s the spirit we carry into every workshop, every reflection circle, every student badge we award.

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to read and share the full article. Whether you’re a partner, parent, educator, or just someone who believes in the power of young people, this story is a powerful reminder that big change often starts quietly—in a classroom, in a question, in a child discovering their own courage.

👉 Read the full feature on the Giving Tuesday blog

Thank you for being part of the L.E.A.D. journey. Together, we’re raising brave builders of a better world.