If you recognize his face it’s probably because you’ve seen him before….on television! You may now realize that you’ve probably invited him into your living room from time to time. Jora Sahota is the co-host of Eye On Asia, a popular South Asian television program. Jora entertains us all every Saturday and Sunday mornings on City TV from 10 – 11:30 am. His father, Darshan Sahota was the first South Asian in Toronto to showcase the South Asian culture to the local community via television and radio programming. The family business began when the Sahota family played Indian films, at their own movie cinema for a growing South Asian population, which then extended to hosting concerts of Bollywood musicians, actors, and actresses. An opportunity of hosting a television and radio program came shortly after, and now the media company Eastern Television Network is in its 15th year of broadcasting.
Since his childhood, Jora has immersed himself in his family’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for entertaining. Jora continues to host and emcee concerts and events at Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre, Canada’s Wonderland, and the annual CHIN Picnics. Besides entertaining, the Sahota family dedicates their own airtime for charities such as The Sick Kids Hospital Foundation, Holiday Food Drive, and for causes such as Tsunami and earthquake relief. All in all, the family has helped raise over $3,000,000 to date.
When asked “What are the advantages of being a media personality”. Jora replied “the best part is that you have the opportunity to meet well known faces and individuals from different parts of the world with an array of professions. I also have to say that without the support we receive from our viewers/listeners, we wouldn’t be in the position we are in today. So, if someone wants to talk ‘Bollywood’, sports, anything, then I’m happy to oblige. After all, they’ve been listening to me for years!”
When asked “So if the roses are so red on the media side why work in Real Estate full-time?” Jora replies “Simple. I’m a people person and I love properties, plus with the family business now running like a well-oiled machine, I am challenging myself to bring to the Real Estate arena, what I have brought to Eye On Asia for years, and that is being personable and offering great service. I feel that there are too many Realtors in this business that do not understand that selling properties is service oriented. Imagine a snow globe if you will. When you shake it thousands of particles are floating around – scattered, heading in all different directions. That’s how I feel Realtors are today. They’re liaising with clients but don’t really have the skills to capture the needs of the client. I feel that when that snow globe settles, the understanding, honest, and hard working Realtors will be remaining, and that’s where I will be!” sounding confident.
Jora explains further “When you work in media, you meet so many different people. And when I have a chance to talk with CEO’s of big companies, I ask them what their secret is to success? They all have the same principle when it comes to business: Keep it simple, and go for it! When former President Bill Clinton came to Toronto to speak at a convention, and an associate of mine, Ranjit Dhaliwal with Mortgage Intelligence, was lucky enough to attend, told me the most valuable information he received from Clinton’s three hour speech was spoken in one sentence: “Keep it simple, advertise to only those that are listening.”
Jora’s strategy is to use the media resources he has, by advertising all his client’s properties to the best of his ability. Jora strongly believes that when it comes to your home, the more he shows, the more people know!
Raised in Mississauga, Jora is an avid sports enthusiast. His biggest accomplishment in sports is a Hole in One at Hunters Glen a par3 175 yards with a 4-iron! Jora’s biggest disappointment is that he hasn’t yet seen the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup since 1967.
