The leaders at the heart of JUSSIN

The leaders at the heart of JUSSIN

The leaders at the heart of JUSSIN

Our alumni are the reason JUSSIN exists. They are social sector leaders from across Japan and the United States who continue to exchange ideas, support one another, and build collaborations long after each gathering ends.

Once part of JUSSIN, always part of JUSSIN.

Our alumni are the reason JUSSIN exists. They are social sector leaders from across Japan and the United States who continue to exchange ideas, support one another, and build collaborations long after each gathering ends.

Once part of JUSSIN, always part of JUSSIN.

Alumni Network

Akiko Suginohara

Akiko Suginohara

NPO Code for Everyone

CEO

Kobe 2025

Ariel Schwartz

Ariel Schwartz

University of Pennsylvania

Managing Director, Center for Social Impact St

Kobe 2025

Colby Swettberg

Colby Swettberg

Chief Executive Officer

Silver Lining Mentoring

Kobe 2025

Fujioka Satoko

Fujioka Satoko

Orange Medical and Social services(OMS)

Board Member, Designer of Community Development in Home Healthcare

Kobe 2025

Hiroshi Kokubo

Hiroshi Kokubo

Hitoshizuku Inc.

CEO

Kobe 2025

Joshua Lavra

Joshua Lavra

Hopelab

Principal, Youth-Led Innovation

Kobe 2025

Juntaro Konno

Juntaro Konno

Switch

Representative Director

Kobe 2025

Keiichi Katsuyama

Keiichi Katsuyama

HASSYADAI SOCIAL

Co-CEO

Kobe 2025

Makino Yoshiaki

Makino Yoshiaki

Service Grant Japan, Inc.

Co-Representative Director

Kobe 2025

Matsushima Takumi

Matsushima Takumi

Japan Fundraising Association / Japan Impact Institute

Managing Director

Kobe 2025

Melissa Sawyer

Melissa Sawyer

Youth Empowerment Project

Co-Founder & CEO

Kobe 2025

Narita Mao

Narita Mao

WELgee

Director

Kobe 2025

Rie Mishima

Rie Mishima

Nationwide Children’s Cafeteria Support Center Musubie

President and CEO

Kobe 2025

Soichiro Miura

Soichiro Miura

HASSYADAI SOCIAL

Co-CEO

Kobe 2025

Suzuki Aine

Suzuki Aine

SISTERS

Representative Director

Kobe 2025

Suzuki Sakae

Suzuki Sakae

Social Innovation Partners

CEO & Representative Director

Kobe 2025

Watanabe Yumiko

Watanabe Yumiko

NPO Kidsdoor

Chairperson

Kobe 2025

Yuko Shiomi

Yuko Shiomi

JAE

Representative Director

Kobe 2025

“This forum was an incredibly meaningful opportunity for me to build new connections and gain fresh perspectives.

Although our countries and systems are different, we were struck by how deeply we shared the same sense of purpose and commitment to solving social challenges. Through conversations with the U.S. delegates, we felt that the distance between Japan, the United States, and the wider world suddenly became much smaller.

One of the most valuable takeaways was realizing that there are many different ways to approach the same organizational challenges—from HR systems to decision-making at different stages of growth. Inspired by those conversations, we reorganized our team structure and refined our mission. The perspectives we gained have had a lasting influence on the way we make decisions as leaders.

The forum also inspired me (Soichiro) on a personal level. I restarted studying English and have since planned my first visit to the United States. As our collaborations with global companies continue to grow, this experience gave us the confidence and momentum to deepen those partnerships even further.

Many of the ideas and perspectives shared by the participants were immediately applicable to our work at HASSYADAI SOCIAL, and we have already begun putting them into practice within our organization.

Looking back, this forum became a true turning point for us. We sincerely hope more changemakers will have the opportunity to experience something equally transformative.”

Soichiro Miura, Keichi Katsuyama, Co-Founders, HASSYADAI SOCIAL

“I joined JUSSIN shortly after becoming CEO, at a time when I wanted space to reflect on the self-doubt and pressure that came with stepping into a new leadership role. During the one-on-one coaching sessions, I felt truly heard despite not always being able to clearly articulate what I was experiencing. One insight that stayed with me was the simple but powerful idea that “a leader’s job is to listen.”

In one of the leadership workshops, I learned through an assessment that I belonged to a relatively uncommon leadership profile. Rather than seeing that as a weakness, I was encouraged to help my team understand how I lead. Inspired by that experience, I facilitated the same exercise with our management team. The conversations were so valuable that I created a guide to the process and even shared it with fellow JUSSIN participants. It became an important opportunity to build stronger foundations of trust and understanding within our team.

As participants grappled with their own leadership challenges and aspirations, the energy and vulnerability within the group continued to deepen. What made the experience especially meaningful was hearing from American leaders who were genuinely committed to contributing to the community. Their messages, delivered in simple and direct language, resonated deeply and left a lasting impression on me.”

Akiko Suginohara, CEO, NPO Code for Everyone

Get in touch

The Network Continues To Grow

The Network Continues To Grow

Every year, new leaders, advisors, partners, and supporters join JUSSIN, expanding the community and strengthening the connections that make cross-border social innovation possible.

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