Robert Herjavec arrived in Canada at age eight with his family from Yugoslavia, possessing only $20 and a single suitcase. This challenging start instilled in him a determination to build a better life.
His career path was unconventional. Herjavec initially worked in the film industry before transitioning to tech. He famously took a job selling IBM mainframe emulation boards at Logiquest by offering to work for free for six months, demonstrating his commitment and eagerness to learn. He later became president of the company before being fired in 1990.
Herjavec realized that traditional employment wouldn't generate the capital needed for significant investments like a house down payment. This led him to a pivotal decision: to take bigger risks and become an entrepreneur. He focused on fields where human capital was valued over initial financial investment, building and selling a series of businesses.
His entrepreneurial journey included selling his software company, BRAK Systems, for $30 million in 2000, and founding the IT security firm Herjavec Group, which boasts estimated annual revenues of $103.3 million. Beyond his business ventures, Herjavec gained widespread recognition as an investor on "Dragon's Den" in Canada and "Shark Tank" in the U.S. and Australia.
