
Robert Herjavec
Acclaimed Venture Capitalist & CBC Dragon
At the age of eight, Robert Herjavec and his family left Croatia, arriving in Toronto with a single suitcase, no job prospects, $20 to their name, and dreams of success. From delivering newspapers to waiting on tables to launching a computer company from his basement, he applied his immense energy and ambition with outstanding success. Herjavec’s determination and work ethic built numerous firms that have been sold for hundreds of millions of dollars, based on their outstanding operation. He continues to be a key figure in venture capitalism, and is often seen making deals on the CBC’s Dragons' Den and ABC’s Shark Tank.
Robert Herjavec is one of Canada’s most recognizable business leaders. He has built and sold business on his way to amassing a personal fortune of over $ 100 million dollars. A first generation immigrant, Robert arrived in Halifax at age 8 with his parents after escaping communism in Yugoslavia. With one suitcase, little prospects, $20, no understanding of English but with unlimited dreams Robert has experienced the classic rags to riches, immigrant story.
From delivering newspapers, waiting on tables, and launching a computer company from his basement, he applied his immense energy and ambition with outstanding success. A serial entrepreneur Robert has built and sold several Companies including a computer security company to AT&T and a technology Company to Nokia for $ 225 Million. Widely known as an entrepreneurial and motivational expert Robert’s business advice has appeared in numerous national newspapers and magazines.
Following a short retirement, Robert launched, The Herjavec Group, now acknowledged as Canada’s leading cyber security provider and one of the fastest growing Companies in Canada – which has in a few short years grown from $ 400k in sales, and 3 people to a run rate of over $ 80 million and over 100 people. Robert’s celebrity has expanded with leading roles on Dragons' Den ( now in its 7th Seasons ), the # 1 TV show on CBC, and the American hit show Shark Tank (now in its 2nd Season, produced by Mark Burnett Productions, Sony, Disney and ABC).
With the aptly titled Driven, published by Harper Collins, Robert can now add "best selling author" to his resume as the book has been on the Globe and Mail bestseller list and #1 on the National Post business bestseller list for over four months (and counting)!
Robert commutes between his permanent home in Toronto and his island getaway in Florida. He is an avid runner, most recently completing the New York City Marathon and a single digit golfer having played in several charity golf tournaments including the Mike Weir event at the Canadian Open and the Wayne Gretzky Nationwide Tour Pro-Am. Most recently Robert has gone back to one of his first loves – motor racing – competing in the Ferrari Challenge Series across North America including two Canadian stops – at the Montreal Grand Prix and the Toronto Indy.
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September 2010Driven: How To Succeed In Business And In Life
Robert Herjavec has lived the classic "rags to riches" story, from having only $20 in his pocket to starting up technology companies worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The son of Croatian immigrants, Herjavec overcame the odds and amassed incredible wealth, doing it through pure hard work and determination. And now, for the first time, he shares his hard-won wisdom in one of the most inspirational business books of the season. Herjavec reveals the secrets that took him from waiting tables to growing his nascent technology company, The Herjavec Group, into a world-class conglomerate. His principles are as valuable in the living room as they are in the boardroom. Anyone can succeed, on their own terms, by following his sage but simple advice -- as long as they're willing to take chances, take control of their future and stay true to their vision.
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