Raptors, Raptors!: A Lesson in Leadership and Culture
Vivekanand (Vivek) Iyer
I have lived
in many places and adapted easily to new cultures. So, when I moved to Canada, I assumed I would settle easily. I was confident in my ability to make friends, network, and build a small community. However, within the first few weeks, I began noticing subtle cultural differences that made me realize it would take time and effort to truly become part of this wonderful place.
People were polite, helpful, and cheerful, but there was a formality to interactions. Conversations often revolved around work, the weather, or my background and origin, India. I realised that I needed to do something more to help people warm up to me and see the real me. I reflected on what I could improve. That led me to look inward and a few things showed up:
Sometimes, I had to repeat myself.
My examples didn’t always resonate.
Humour was different. Some of my best jokes were contextually not resonating.
At this stage, I must add that I speak six languages and understand the culture of all these languages very well and that speaking in English felt second nature. I also realised that, while I had lived in other countries, I had not moved to a new country to settle in. This was an important factor, and I realised that I needed to dig deeper to truly understand and integrate into its culture.
So, I reached out to a cousin who had lived in Canada for over a decade, hoping to learn from his experience. His single piece of advice changed everything: “Start following a local sport.” He explained that connecting over sports could transform formal conversations into personal, emotional exchanges that build real connections.
It was 2019, and the Toronto Raptors were dominating the NBA. Their home court, Scotiabank Arena, was just a block from my condo and across the street from my office. I started following their games, and within weeks, I was celebrating their championship win in a local club with people who had grown closer to me during that time.
This icebreaker opened the door to building a community, some of whom became great friends. Of course, I also worked on other aspects, like choosing the right expressions, understanding humour, and slowing the pace at which I spoke. These adjustments came naturally over time. Looking back, I realize that what I was learning had less to do with social comfort and far more to do with how culture actually operates.
Leaders often assume culture is transmitted through values statements, onboarding sessions, or well-meaning instruction. In reality, culture is learned through lived moments — how decisions are discussed, how disagreement is handled, what earns approval, and what creates distance.
The Raptors win was 7 years back and looking back, a few things still echo in my thoughts:
Integration takes time — leaders must be patient with what they cannot immediately see.
Small, shared experiences often build more trust than formal initiatives.
Anyone joining a new culture or organization must exercise agency, just as much as systems must provide support.
Organizational culture is what happens between meetings. Agendas control 10% of reality; hallway conversations, side-channels, and post-presentation drinks control the other 90%.
And now, back to my story. Some of you might ask, why I chose basketball and not hockey. Well, Maple Leaf Square, where the Scotiabank Arena is located, has been a place of triumph—just not for the Leafs. It’s been 58 years and counting. When they finally break the streak, I’ll be there, probably older, a little greyer, but celebrating with the same gang and a lot of nostalgia.
Vivek Iyer is an Executive and Leadership Coach with over two decades of global leadership experience across India, Singapore, the UK, and Canada, including senior roles at PwC, Ernst & Young, and AC Nielsen. Trained at the Center for Executive Coaching and accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ACC), his work is grounded in a blend of strategic rigor and human-centered coaching. Through Swanvesha Executive Coaching — rooted in the concept of self-inquiry — he supports leaders and organizations in strengthening leadership capability, shaping core behaviors, navigating cultural complexity, and building sustainable, high-performing cultures.For more details, please visit https://swanvesha.com
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