My husband Tony LOVES, yes LOVES the Dodgers. It started as a kid and over the years, it’s rubbed off on me. Why I’m a fan goes far beyond the wins. It’s about the culture they’ve created and the sense of community that brings people together, even when they lose.
Tony recently surprised me for our Date Night, taking me to “Japanese Heritage Night” at Dodger Stadium. We parked at Union Station, took one of the many special shuttles, filled with fans dressed in Dodger blue. There was an energy of joy, love and excitement of being a Dodger fan that filled the air and continued to radiate out as we arrived at the stadium. You can’t believe how many people were there with their kids and families on a Monday night! The stadium was packed from top to bottom! I was so surprised.
Because it was Japanese Heritage Night, Tony bought the special package, and we received commemorative shirts featuring Mount Fuji on the back. I expected to see mostly Japanese fans, but what struck me was how diverse the crowd was. People from every background were there wearing jerseys of their favorite players, especially Ohtani and Yamamoto. It was cool because I grew up in a time when I was bullied for looking like I did. While there is still much prejudice today, the beauty of sports is that it crosses all boundaries and somehow brings us together no matter what race we are.
We sat right over first base. Nice!! Tony got his Dodger Dog. Then we became a part of the Dodger community, laughing, yelling, talking with each other about players, the club. As I sat there watching the game, I realized I wasn’t just watching baseball. I was watching culture in action.
People truly love the Dodgers, and they know the players and their stories. These aren’t just star athletes to them. They are people they have come to know, admire, and support. As I watched the players that evening I was struck by the love that they have for each other and how much they genuinely seemed to care about one another. Their support felt real. They encourage each other and celebrated each other – love the sunflower seeds! They left their egos at the door and played for something larger than themselves.
Even when the Dodgers fell behind, nobody gave up. People kept cheering, believing, and supporting their team. Then came the bottom of the ninth. Down 4-2, the Dodgers mounted an incredible comeback and walked off with a 5-4 victory. The stadium erupted. That’s when it hit me. The Dodgers have built something much bigger than a winning baseball team. They’ve built a culture people want to belong to.
Many people assume the Dodgers’ competitive advantage is money. Yes, they have resources. But money alone doesn’t explain why some of the best players in baseball choose to play there. What attracts great talent is culture.
The Dodgers have built a culture where many star athletes have taken cuts in salary or deferred their pay to play for the Dodgers. When they join, they leave their egos at the door. This culture of being treated like family, giving back to the community, and supporting their players through some of their most challenging times makes it a special place to play.
Players have seen the support that the club continually gives their players like pitcher Alex Vessia and his wife when they lost their baby daughter during the playoffs of the World Series. They saw them renew outfielder Andrew Toles’s contract for seven years, even though he couldn’t play due to mental health issues, to provide him with health insurance so he could access the specialized medical care he needed. When people in an organization see what a company is willing to do for their people, they’re committed, they’re loyal and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make it thrive and succeed.
As an executive coach, I’ve seen talented leaders walk away from high-paying opportunities because the culture no longer aligned with their values. I’ve seen younger generations choose purpose, growth, and belonging over compensation alone. Strategy matters. Money matters. But culture determines whether people want to stay, contribute, grow, and give their best. Money and strategy can be copied. Culture cannot. What can we learn from the Boys in Blue?
· Great teams leave their egos at the door and put the success of the team ahead of individual recognition.
· The best organizations invest in developing people, not just improving performance.
· Leaders create trust by showing up for people during difficult times.
· People stay where they feel seen, valued, supported, and encouraged to grow.
The most successful companies I’ve worked with create cultures where people want to belong. Their leaders genuinely care about their people. Team members feel seen, valued, and encouraged to use their gifts and live their purpose.
When you build that kind of culture, extraordinary things become possible….even winning the game in the ninth inning when it doesn’t seem like you have a chance!