Jamin Brazil (2015), Division of Graduate Studies
By ESRA HASHEM
It was the early 1980s in Madera when Jamin Brazil learned his most important lesson: grit.
His father owned a small grape and raisin farm, where Jamin spent the nights and weekends of his childhood working.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world, to be honest. It was very humble beginnings,” Jamin says. “You learn about the importance of just showing up — it doesn’t matter if it’s cold or hot or rainy — you’re out there doing the job that needs to get done.”
Jamin’s grit led him from small-town Madera to the Silicon Valley after he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1993. He started a company that was among the first to utilize technology to answer important customer insight questions.
He returned to the Central Valley as CEO of FocusVision, a market research technology company with offices across six countries, five continents and hundreds of employees. He has worked with some of the world’s top brands, including eBay, Twitter, LinkedIn and Wells Fargo.
In 2015, Jamin earned an MBA from Fresno State. He has since focused his efforts in investing in the local community, creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
“I see a lot of enthusiasm, hope and a strong desire for success among students,” Jamin says. “I believe we can help create that fertile soil that ultimately helps them grow and prosper.”
Jamin is an active member of the Advisory Committee for the Patino School of Entrepreneurship, which fosters real-world business skills among local high school students. At Fresno State, he delivers guest lectures to business students and serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Science and Mathematics.
“The next generation is going to stand on our shoulders, and we have to make sure that they have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and successes,” Jamin says. “I really believe that there are great opportunities here — and Fresno has the backbone, the grit, to be able to pull through.”
