Nice to meet you,
I'm Joice Toyota

ABOUT ME

I'm a Brazilian entrepreneur recognized for my work in public administration and nonprofit management. Currently, I'm the executive director of Motriz, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen local governments so they can deliver quality services to all people in Brazil.

MY HISTORY

My journey in social impact began in 2011 when I worked as a management consultant for the Departments of Education in the states of Amazonas and Goiás.

After this experience, as an electrical engineer, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in education at Stanford. In 2015, inspired by my work with governments and driven by a desire for social transformation in Brazil, I founded Vetor Brasil, a civil society organization dedicated to supporting the modernization of public management in Brazilian subnational governments.

Under my leadership, Vetor Brasil left a legacy in the modernization of Brazilian public administration, having trained over a thousand public leaders across more than 270 government departments. We were recognized by various philanthropic organizations, such as MacKenzie Scott, the Lemann Foundation, and Velez Reyes. We received several awards acknowledging our impact, such as in 2019, when we were recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as an innovative organization helping Brazilian governments adopt merit-based recruitment processes for public leadership positions.

In 2022, I led the merger between Vetor Brasil and Instituto Gesto—an unprecedented and innovative move in the Brazilian third sector—to create Motriz, an even more powerful organization aimed at strengthening governments and their state capacity to deliver better services to the population.

I am committed to Brazil’s social transformation, and beyond my current role as Executive Director of Motriz, I participate in various boards and leadership networks that share the same commitment of building a better Brazil for all.

My Journey

Board Memberships and Governance Roles

In 2018, I joined Brazil’s Economic and Social Development Council and have been a member of Todos Pela Educação since then. In 2020, I joined the Strategic Council of Fundação Estudar, and in 2023, the Compliance Committee of Umane. I serve as a Global Advisor to the Apolitical Foundation and sit on boards such as the Center for Advocacy and Global Growth and the Movimento Pessoas à Frente. I am also a board member of ImpulsoGov, an organization that develops data-driven solutions to improve Brazil’s public healthcare system (SUS).

Public Sector Engagement

In 2013, I served as Director of Project Management at the Goiás State Department of Education, where I developed evaluation methodologies, set performance targets for 900 schools, and coordinated a $65 million public bidding process for the construction of 36 schools. I also structured 20 projects under the "Pacto pela Educação" initiative, which received support from Bain & Company and sparked discussions about the influence of international organizations.

Social Entrepreneurship

From 2015 to 2023, I was the co-founder and Executive Director of Vetor Brasil, which supported public management in partnership with state and municipal governments. The organization was funded by institutions such as the Lemann Foundation and Itaú Social. In 2023, Vetor Brasil received a donation from MacKenzie Scott, becoming the first organization outside the U.S. to join their portfolio. In 2024, Vetor Brasil merged with Instituto Gesto to form Motriz.

Early Professional Experience

During my undergraduate studies, I worked as a consultant at Poli Júnior and served as CEO of FEJESP (2003–2005), overseeing 30 junior enterprises. I later worked as a Case Team Leader at Bain & Company (2009–2013), leading projects in aviation, agribusiness, financial services, and education policy. In 2011, I was a consultant for the Amazonas State Department of Education.

Recognitions

I have been recognized for my contributions to public management, civil service reform, and nonprofit leadership.

2024 Leadership Development Social Responsibility Award (2024)

Brazil-U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Awarded to Motriz for its contributions to leadership development and strengthening public sector capacity in Brazil.

Mackenzie Scott Grant (2022)

Vetor Brasil became the first nonprofit organization in Brazil to receive a philanthropic investment from MacKenzie Scott.

Hertie School Partnership (2021)

The Hertie School, a prestigious school of governance based in Berlin, established a partnership with Vetor Brasil to support the academic advancement of its alumni.

Young Global Leader (2019)

World Economic Forum.

OECD Recognition (2019)

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recognized Vetor Brasil as an innovative organization in public sector leadership recruitment.

Veja-se Award in Public Policy (2017)

Veja Magazine – Recognized as a finalist in the Public Policy category for contributions to social impact in Brazil.

Stanford Social Innovation Fellow (2015)

Stanford Graduate School of Business – Center for Social Innovation. Supported the launch of a nonprofit organization addressing social and environmental challenges.

Person of the Year Fellow (2014)

Brazil-U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Education Pioneers Fellow (2014)

Leadership development program for professionals in the education sector.