NSB Logo Nav Bhatia Nav Bhatia

Nav Bhatia

Speaker

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Raptors Superfan & Top Auto Dealer

Nav Bhatia is better known as the Superfan. He hasn’t missed a Raptors home game since they first began playing in 1995. His goal is simple; to unite people of all ages and backgrounds through the game of basketball so they don’t have to face the discrimination Nav faced over the years as a visible minority.

Keynote Speeches

Virtual Keynotes & Webinars
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Changing Perceptions

In this presentation, Nav shares his story of immigrating to Canada, rising to the top of the North American automobile industry, and using professional basketball to change perceptions and encourage integration.

Key Takeaways:
• Improving your culture by better-integrating newcomers.
• A compass for building a successful business through a positive attitude & hard work.
• How to use shared passions to rise above discrimination & excel both as individuals and as an organization.

From Sikh to Superfan: Embracing Diversity

Organizations now see that by building out a diverse and inclusive workplace, they are gaining benefits that go far beyond the optics. But how does a diverse and inclusive workplace look in a practical sense? How can organizations better meet the unique needs of these individuals?

In this presentation, Nav shares his firsthand account of being a newcomer to Canada trying to integrate & excel with a new employer, a new culture, and a new society. This presentation will show audiences how to accommodate newcomers into your team & help equip them with the tools and support needed to excel. 

Audience reviews:

  • Nav is a bit of an icon right now here in Toronto, so we never really had a doubt. However his story was amazing, he spoke well and was so kind so stick around for every single participant that wanted to take a selfie with him. True gentlemen. We are very happy with having chosen Nav to be our guest speaker this year.

    - CIBC

Speaker Biography

Toronto has been named the most multicultural city in the world, yet many of the immigrants to the city still encounter racism long after they’ve arrived. Nav Bhatia immigrated to Canada from India with a mechanical engineering degree in 1984. After overcoming significant prejudice and obstacles as a Sikh, today he boasts successful business enterprises and the coveted title of “Superfan” of the Toronto Raptors. 

On his first day of work as a car salesperson, Nav had racially offensive jokes and name-calling directed at him because he was wearing a turban. He made a choice. Rather than fight back with insults, Nav took a positive route by letting his hard work do the talking.  He sold 127 cars in just ninety days. It’s a record that stands to this day. He did it the old-fashioned way, by being honest (and yes, some catchy radio ads). Nav soon became the manager and today owns that dealership along with two others in Ontario

He’s known as the Official Raptor’s Superfan, and recently was given the title Raptor`s South Asian Community Ambassador working alongside superstar Drake. Sitting in courtside seat A12, Nav can often be seen cheering enthusiastically or sharing words of encouragement with players on both teams. In May 2021, Nav became the first fan ever to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His exhibit features a turban and a “Superfan” jersey. 

He is heavily involved in bringing Bollywood to the Non-Resident Indians and through his love of basketball and his business Nav looks to change the perception of Sikhs to the mainstream audience.

Nav has started the Nav Bhatia Superfan Foundation. A non-profit dedicated to raising money to build basketball courts and camps for kids here in Canada and across the globe.  Every year he spends $300K of his own money to send kids – mostly from immigrant families – to Toronto Raptors games.

In 2016 he became an official ambassador for World Vision’s Rise Up! Daughters of India campaign. It’s something near & dear to his heart, having witnessed first-hand the bias against females in India. His daughter Tia, was adopted from an orphanage in the country. Nav hopes that one day we will see an India where daughters are equally valued as sons are.

He’s worked as an influencer for brands such as Tim Hortons and Tourism Toronto.