January Start! Global Communication & Influence

The Education Team

LeadGL’s programs are designed and led by experts who bridge education and the real world.

Toshi Iwata

President

Leadership and thinking skills come from education, whether for children or adults. I am convinced of this after more than 30 years of experience in global companies and having my children attend an International Baccalaureate program in Singapore. It also highlighted for me the problems with Japanese public education, which focuses on solving given problems, emphasizes memorization, and holds everyone to the same standard of competition. Through mentoring over 200 university students, I have learned that many of them have lost their purpose and interest in learning and have not found their own path. Also, Japanese people do not speak English well enough.

I wondered if I could somehow implement a curriculum that would allow children to proactively create their own path, learn English, and have the confidence to go out into the world.

Looking back on my past, I see that the skills needed in society, such as leadership, thinking skills, and perseverance, have been acquired through my experiences overcoming many challenges and failures in brass bands and orchestras since junior high school, and through my work. I acquired my English after I entered the workforce.

I wanted to share my unique experiences with many of the next generation. That is why I started LeadGL Academy.

Becky Sanchez

Curriculum Supervisor

Growing up in a non-traditional family, I spent many years figuring out how to navigate the world to build a successful future for myself. From an early age, I understood the importance of education and dedicated myself to my studies to ensure I could achieve my dreams one day. I ultimately chose to be a teacher because I wanted to provide the same support, guidance, and care to my students that my teachers gave me.

Now that I have three children of my own, I am even more dedicated to my mission of helping children become successful, happy, and confident individuals capable of carving their own paths in life. Having spent many years teaching in Japanese universities, I have seen firsthand the great potential of children when they’re given the right support. However, they often don’t have a place to express themselves due to the strict structure of the traditional Japanese school system. I have also seen this as a parent, as my children often struggle to fit in as foreigners, despite growing up in Japan.

This is why I helped found LeadGL Academy. I wanted to create a space where children can open their minds, embrace different ways of thinking, and become global citizens equipped with the tools to succeed. I believe that every child can develop the confidence to choose their own paths and thrive, no matter where their dreams take them.

My background in language education gives me the qualifications to create curriculum and teach, but it is my passion for providing the guidance and support that I wish I had growing up that drives me at LeadGL Academy. By encouraging children to take ownership of their learning and giving them the tools to succeed, I hope to nurture children who are not only academically proficient but also emotionally resilient, confident, and ready to take on the world.