Robert Herjavec, the founder of Herjavec Group (Cover Image Source: ABC News @YouTube)
Highlights:
- Robert Herjavec shares his journey from being an immigrant to building a billion-dollar industry.
- The Shark Tank judge reveals that his parents took up odd jobs after fleeing to Canada in the early 70s.
- Robert founded the Herjavec Group in 2003 and sold a majority stake to Apax Partners in 2021.
Success and fortune don’t happen overnight, and Robert Herjavec’s journey is a living example. When you see Robert on platforms such as Shark Tank, you see an accomplished businessman who has accumulated a wealth of $320 million. But only a few know about the struggles he endured during his childhood and the challenges he had to overcome to be successful in his career and life.
Born in Croatia, Robert was only 8 when his father and the family had to flee the country. They had one suitcase when they arrived in Canada and started to build a life from scratch in a foreign land. Robert has never avoided speaking about his family’s history and struggles.
Robert Herjavec Shares His Struggles as an Immigrant
Robert Herjavec was born in 1962 and spent his early childhood in Zbjeg. His father, Vladimir often spoke against the then-governing system and was jailed multiple times.
“He’d drink a little too much, say bad things about Communism, and got thrown into jail 22 times for being an anti-Communist,” Robert was quoted by Fortune.
In the early 1970s, Vladimir escaped the jail, took his wife and Robert and migrated to Canada, with one suitcase and merely $20. For the next 18 months, they lived in the basement of the house of his mother’s friend in Toronto before shifting into a rented three-bedroom apartment.
“As an immigrant, where you live is a big deal. Only people who come from nothing really appreciate this,” Robert told during the interview.
The transition from Croatia to Canada wasn’t easy for Robert. His father swept floors in a factory and his mother took up a job as a receptionist, Robert told Rebecca Jarvis in an interview for ABC.
“I was the poorest kid in his class, Robert said in another chat with Fortune. The businessman further explained, “I looked different, and people made fun of me. It forced me to mature really fast.”
Robert Herjavec Never Stopped Hustling
Having seen his parents struggle throughout his childhood, Robert thrived for a better life. He graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Toronto and began his career with a TV station. He then tried his luck in the field of direction but soon realised that “entertainment is a crazy industry,” as he says.
A conversation with a friend made him realise that real money lies in the tech business when he learned that a tech company was offering a job with a paycheck of $30,000 a year. Robert got the job and after getting valuable experience, he left the company to start his own business.
His entrepreneurial journey was nothing short of hurdles, but Robert never stopped believing in his vision and instead continued to hustle. The result? He built BRAK Systems, operated it from the basement of his home and later sold it for $30.2 million. It was the first time he realised that he has made it in life.
“That $30 million changed my life forever,” Robert told Toronto Waterfront Magazine in 2013, while adding, “I didn’t have the ability to dream any bigger. It took a long time for me to think I could do more.”
Robert founded The Herjavec Group in 2003 and made it into a billion-dollar business. When asked why he got into tech, Robert told ABC News that in technology, “Nobody cares who your father is, nobody cares how much money you have. It’s all about value and I love that about it.”
Robert’s journey from a poor immigrant to becoming one of the most successful entrepreneurs is truly inspirational. Despite coming from a humble background with major financial hardships, no career guidance and people mocking him for being an immigrant, Robert never gave up on his goal to become successful. The Shark Tank judge believes that if he can do it, anybody can.
Entrepreneur, auteur, raconteur. Rob Merlino is a blogger and writer who enjoys the Shark Tank TV show and Hot Dogs. A father of five who freelances in a variety of publications, Rob has a stable of websites including Shark Tank Blog, Hot Dog Stories, Rob Merlino.com and more.
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