My guest today is the agribusiness entrepreneur, Alessandra Nishimura. Alessandra was born in São Paulo, but was raised in the countryside, in the small town of Pompéia — the kind of town where everyone knows each other. She graduated in Business Administration from PUC-SP and specialized in Management Models from FIA and the International Master Program in Horizontal Leadership from IMO. Alessandra is the third generation of the Grupo Jacto, with a history of more than 70 years and presence on 5 continents.
Her parents, Jiro and Hiromi, both 83 years old, are extremely active to this day, always serving the church and the community. Her father started his career early working with his grandfather, and was president of Jacto Agrícola and Unipac. After leaving the board, Mr. Jiro took over the presidency of the Fundação Shunji Nishimura. Mrs. Hiromi had five children — from 1971 to 1978 —, took care of the home, the children, and still ventured into business.
They are: Ariane Kunihiro, Alessandra Nishimura, Fábio Shotaro, Franklim Shunjiro, and Andrea Sakuma.
Alessandra grew up barefoot, climbing trees, playing ball in the street, and setting fashion trends in the town. “It was a well-lived childhood, I wouldn’t trade it for any electronic device in this world — a true school of life, which taught me about simplicity, respect, and the joy of being with family.” Three years ago, Alessandra married businessman Luiz Claudio Mori, better known as Luizinho Hirata.
Aryane Garcia – During your adolescence, at some point did you imagine being in the position you are today?
Alessandra Nishimura – Not even close (laughs). I didn’t grow up thinking about being a “family governance leader” or “board member.” My dream back then was much simpler — maybe working in something creative, traveling the world, or starting my own business. I really wanted to work for a multinational; I had no knowledge of the importance of Jacto to the agro sector. Thinking that my grandfather was the manufacturer of the world’s first coffee harvester is something historic, but I had no idea about that; to me, he was my grandfather, creative and funny. I worked a lot in therapy on my career issue, what I wanted to do, and what my skills were. The difficult part is that when you’re good at many things, it’s hard to focus. But looking back, I realize that everything I lived prepared me for this role: being a bridge between generations, fostering dialogue, and helping the family grow united, even with differences.
Aryane Garcia – Still in your childhood, which artists influenced you that have now lost relevance with the digital revolution and the advent of the internet?
Alessandra Nishimura – It was a different time. Artists were distant — we only saw them on TV or heard them on the radio. I would stay glued waiting for the right song to record on cassette tape (laughs). My grandmother received Japanese soap operas on Betamax tapes, and I watched them with her — I think that’s where my dorama soul was born. I read a lot — I read practically the entire Vaga-Lume collection. I grew up watching Sítio do Pica-pau Amarelo, Os Trapalhões, and Elvis Presley movies on Sessão da Tarde. We loved Turma da Mônica comics; my dad, the biggest fan of Chico Bento and Asterix.
It was a time without internet, but with a lot of imagination. I don’t remember anyone particularly “influential” — my biggest influence was family life itself.
Aryane Garcia – After years of learning, becoming a recognized professional in your field brings you work-related advantages to opine on other areas/companies in the segment?
Alessandra Nishimura – I believe so, but mainly because respect comes from coherence. I don’t speak about what I haven’t lived. I learned that what connects people is not the title, but listening and sincerity.
When working with purpose — whether in governance, family education, or agribusiness —, credibility opens doors.
In boards, the value is in diversity: you don’t need to know everything, but listen and integrate different perspectives to make the best decisions.
Aryane Garcia – Among your productive habits during the week, are there precepts adapted by you that were incorporated into your routine and that you now advise to your other collaborators and younger colleagues?
Alessandra Nishimura – I like to start the day having coffee in the sun, looking at the sky — that connection with nature gives me energy. I’m driven by continuous improvement, perhaps something from Japanese culture, or my own family — we’re “the family that fixes everything.” Self-knowledge is also essential: the more we understand ourselves, the better we are for ourselves and thus for the people around us. But I recently learned, in couples mentoring, that self-knowledge is important, but “other knowledge” is essential in relationships. Without realizing it, that’s what I’ve always practiced in family governance: getting to know uncles, aunts, cousins, investing time in relationships.
That habit — of genuinely interested in the other — is the heart of good governance. How much time do you invest in the lives of the people who are important to you with intentionality?
Aryane Garcia – What is your overview of Brazil’s economic situation in the last 20, 10, and 5 years?
Alessandra Nishimura – Since my work is very focused on family relationships and not so much on numbers and economy, I’ll comment on what my grandfather used to say: “The agro has seven good years and seven bad years; that’s why always prepare yourself.” And “Don’t despair, it’s not always night — day will come soon.” In other words, Brazil is an eternal challenge and an eternal opportunity. 20 years ago, the country lived cycles of euphoria and decline. 10 years ago, we began to understand the strength of agro in the economy. And in the last 5, even with pandemic and turbulence, the sector proved its resilience and innovation capacity.
Aryane Garcia – From the various difficulties and opportunities you encountered throughout your career, being part of agribusiness, the most profitable sector in Brazil, helps you understand the country’s social situation? What are your plans to collaborate with the inclusion of young people and more women in the sector?
Alessandra Nishimura – Definitely. Agro is a portrait of Brazil: diverse, creative, resilient. Working in this sector makes me see inequality up close, but also the transformative potential we have. As my grandfather used to say: “Training farmers is a trade no one wants, but it’s very necessary; agriculture can’t stop, if it stops the world stops.” We strongly believe in education as a way of inclusion and growth.
The Fundação Shunji Nishimura was born from gratitude to Brazil, from my grandfather. A way to thank the country that welcomed him and helped him prosper. With the agricultural technical school, it trained more than 800 technologists for Brazil. After 2010, the Foundation continues without the boarding school system and transforms with partnerships: Senai with professional courses and the new high school modality that combines basic general education (BNCC) with technical and professional training. Also with the partnership of Centro Paula Souza, Fatec Shunji Nishimura offers two innovative higher education courses: Mechanization in Precision Agriculture and Big Data in Agribusiness. Starting in 2025, it will offer the higher technology course in Intelligent Systems. From 2013, the year of the first graduation until 2023, Fatec Pompeia trained 911 technologists who work in all regions of Brazil and other countries, mainly in the Agribusiness, Industry, and Information Technology sectors.
When we launched Uniport 3030, the onboard technology revolutionized field operations, making the sprayer much easier and more comfortable to drive — even for women. The partnership with the MAP course expanded this movement even further, attracting female students and training new professionals. Today, it’s inspiring to see so many women working as agricultural machine operators, and the stories we hear from them are always positive and full of pride.
Colégio Shunji Nishimura de Ensino Básico uses the Poliedro system, integrates the TOTVS Família and Layers digital portal for communication between school and guardians, adopts the Canadian methodology from Master’s Academy & College (Deep Learning) — which stimulates autonomy, critical thinking, and practical application — and offers a Bilingual Project in the afternoon shift, in addition to various studios covering music, chess, robotics, arts, and sports. The goal is the integral formation of the student, seeking balance between academic excellence, emotional and relational well-being, and stimulation of spirituality.
The transformation in students’ learning has been one of the points of attention, leading our school to have high Enem scores and entry into excellent colleges and universities with just three years since the start of its High School.
In my family governance work, I believe my family is the one that has shared its story the most in Brazil; we are ambassadors of the FBN – Family Business Network, and thus we encourage and inspire business families to organize and structure themselves to reach succession well.
In December, I launch the course “From Heiress to Guardian,” to share the knowledge I accumulated in these 22 years of journey in socio-family governance.
Aryane Garcia – Your daily and active participation with agro economic statistics gives you a variety of growth opportunities. In your opinion, how will Agribusiness remain strong in the coming years – according to your field of activity?
Alessandra Nishimura – Agro has its instabilities, but it will need to be increasingly human and technological at the same time. The future lies in sustainability, data, artificial intelligence, and, above all, purpose. The countryside is no longer “backward” — it’s the future of a green and connected economy. We have many challenges ahead, and there are a lot of good people fighting for a better Brazil.
Aryane Garcia – According to your experience, on a global level, does Agro face challenges to communicate to the world its importance in the impact of the entire production chain?
Alessandra Nishimura – Enormous. We still speak “inwardly.” The urban world needs to understand that agro is not just tractors and soy — it’s technology, science, nutrition, and future. We lack translating agro into emotion, showing the people behind production. When agro learns to tell its stories, respect will come naturally.
Aryane Garcia – How to convince society that Agro is not the main responsible for global warming? What news or headline should be debunked for having falsely harmed the sector?
Alessandra Nishimura – With information and transparency. The headline “Agro destroys the environment” is unfair and outdated. Responsible agro takes care of the land. We need to debunk the idea that development and sustainability are opposites — they go together. The true producer knows that without healthy soil, there is no future. But it’s a very complicated issue, full of political games, media, etc.
Aryane Garcia – What are the biggest names in Brazilian Agribusiness that influenced your life and which main ones in the world made you change your vision and dynamics to explore the path?
Alessandra Nishimura – I’ll talk from home; my biggest reference is my grandfather, Shunji Nishimura, who planted values before planting companies. Because he was from the time when you really created new things, no copy and paste, no Google; either you were intelligent and creative, or you weren’t. It was a different world. And my grandfather’s life, his dedication to the farmer, is my inspiration. He created the first national sprayer and the world’s first coffee harvester; there’s no way not to be inspired by him. And I don’t stop there, because creation is a fact, but beyond that, he always had the attitude of “fix everything” and not abandon the farmer. It’s loyalty, character, and honesty.
Aryane Garcia – If you could create some social rules that favor the productive dynamics of Agribusiness and the Brazilian people, what would your bill proposals be?
Alessandra Nishimura – First: implement entrepreneurial education in schools, from basic education, valuing youth protagonism and creativity. I strongly believe in this movement and support the work that the De Olho no Material Escolar project has been doing with schools, stimulating critical thinking and a sense of responsibility about what is taught to our children.
Second: it is essential to strengthen governance in business families, especially in the field. Beyond technologies and innovations that transform production, we need to bring information and training on succession, management, and continuity of family businesses. When a family understands its roles and builds solid governance structures, it creates the bases not only for economic prosperity but also for the perpetuation of values, bonds, and legacies.
Aryane Garcia – From the various attitudes that accelerate Brazil’s growth, what is the greatest contribution this generation can deliver that will impact the next 30 years?
Alessandra Nishimura – Awareness. We are learning to do with purpose — and not just for results. This generation is breaking the cycle of “grow at any cost.” I believe our legacy will be a more sustainable, empathetic, and less short-termist Brazil.
Aryane Garcia – If you could choose a Brazilian city to live in until your last day, which one would it be and why?
Alessandra Nishimura – Probably Pompéia, because my roots are there, most of my extended family is there. A quiet, pleasant city to live in, but I love to travel and can’t stay in one place for long. There is no more valuable inheritance than a united family aware of its purpose. From this world we take nothing; be a good steward of everything God placed in your hands and pass it on to the next generations. Goods pass. Legacy remains.
ARYANE GARCIA
Journalist
@aryanegarcia