Raj Arora - words don't do justice to the man who has been there for me at every step. One of the most genuine and caring human beings, constantly striving for excellence and self improvement. Over the years I have learnt many things from Raj in important areas of my life like Gratitude, how to be a better person, measuring success. To have him in your corner is to have a team. Raj helped me a lot during my playing years in my quest for success both in Squash and in the deeper meaning of life and it has been a joyful and enriching journey.

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Planning, strategy and preparation when I was playing against the best in the world and unconditional support when sometimes my parents also were disappointed when I lost, but Raj would always first say 'Never mind'. What did you learn from that loss...

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Raj and I go back a very long way, being class-mates and team-mates in Cathedral. He was always an inspiring team player, rallying people to give their best. 

We got together again at True North, our SAT and IB Training institute, and it was like nothing had changed. He left the academics to me, but was forever motivating and encouraging students to give their best and to strategize their practice. He inspired them to aim ever higher, and he was always there to raise their spirits when they felt despondent, or overwhelmed. He even counselled the parents with finesse, no easy task!  

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He did the same with my tutors, inspiring them to to be passionate about their work and to bring out their creative best in their teaching. He made our workplace a vibrant, healthy, joyful place and both tutors and students loved to hang-out there. 

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We’ve known Raj for over two decades, first on the squash courts as he was a key facilitator of junior squash development in India, and over the last few years as a good friend who has always encouraged us at SILA.

We have admired his inquisitive nature and his ability to motivate, organise and implement impactful programs. He has always been a great listener and actioned ideas to completion.

Raj follows his heart when it comes to things he is passionate about. We’ve seen him invest a lot of his time on programs where he had little to gain but for the satisfaction of doing his bit to make a difference. Much needed, but very few really get out there and execute.

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Everybody needs a Raj in their lives. I’ve keenly observed Raj work with young people over more than two decades now and I can tell you it’s exciting. He’s been instrumental in sowing the seeds of a  ‘Giving’ mindset in many of them who have gone on to make impact in the not for profit space. 

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Raj began mentoring me in the 9th grade. Through our interactions, Raj helped me remain focused & disciplined in order to achieve both academic and athletic excellence.

 

At the time, I didn’t know what I was passionate about or what I wanted to do with my life. That said, a lot of decisions you make at that age are ones that shape your future. 

 

My biggest takeaway from our interactions has been the importance of a positive attitude - 10 years later, it’s still something people I work with notice about me and I truly believe it is a differentiator in the workplace.

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Although Raj was officially just my squash coach, he soon became a mentor who shaped the trajectory of my life in ways that extended far beyond the squash court.

 

The many conversations I’ve had with him over the years are engraved in my mind and still serve as a reminder in much of my decision making even after I moved to the US four years ago.

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Over the last couple of years, Raj has guided me and encouraged me to continuously strive for excellence.

Every conversation we've had, has held a broader lesson for me to learn from and build on , whether it’s about academics, sport or music. He’s taught me how crucial internal motivation is - I’m certainly in a stronger place

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We have been fortunate to have Raj guide our son Vivaan through his formative years. He has engrained a sense of discipline, a positive thought process and an admirable work ethic that we, as parents, are eternally grateful for.

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Raj has a special way with kids. He inspires them. He makes them see the big picture and  helps them work towards their goals. Vivaan is going to reap the benefits of his close bond with Raj for the rest of his life.

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He knew a part of our son’s personality that we would never have known. He encouraged, motivated and was always standing in our son’s corner no matter what.

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I have known Raj Arora for over 15 years now.  He has been instrumental in helping me develop the self-awareness and work ethic that enabled me to succeed as a student-athlete at Princeton University.

As someone who knows Raj in the capacity of a coach, a mentor, and now a friend, I can confidently say that he has never failed to go the extra mile for me. If you dare to match his enthusiasm and commitment, there is no limit to how you can learn from him. He cares deeply about his students and mentees - he takes the time to listen to them, to hear their story, to really try and understand where they are coming from, and where they want to go. Only then does he begin to offer guidance, tailored specifically to the individual. 

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My husband Darius and I have known Raj for a lifetime ! His passion for sport has been infectious. Not only has he been a competitive squash player but has also involved himself in different facets of the sport , organising international events , working with competitive squash players including pros and most importantly in coaching and mentoring aspiring young talent.

He has always had a special interest and talent in identifying young players, coaching them to improve their level of play and mentoring them to be the best that they can be !

We observed this especially in the role that he played in mentoring, advising and encouraging our son Yohan who went on to win the Junior National Championships in 2 different age groups.

Knowing him for such a long time , his true calling definitely seems to be in working with youngsters to achieve their full potential. He has been amazing for both our children and actually motivated me as a mother to bring out the best in them.

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It is rare for people to be so perceptive and even rarer for them to be able to articulate what they want to say. Raj is very special.

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