At the age of eight, Robert Herjavec and his family moved from Croatia to Canada in order to escape Josip Broz Tito’s communist regime. Robert’s family eventually moved to Toronto where both his parents worked minimum wage jobs and tried to learn English. In 1984, in an attempt to support his family, Robert graduated the University of Toronto with a degree in English literature and political science and began his career. Upon graduation Robert convinced a company called Logiquest, who sell IBM mainframe emulation boards, to give him an entry level position by working the first 6 months for free.
In 1990, after climbing the ranks to General Manager of Logiquest, Robert was fired so he started his first company called BRAK Systems (a Canadian integrator of Internet security software) (Ernest and Young, 2013). BRAK was sold to AT&T in 2000 for $30.2 million and is worth over $100 million today (Kopun, 2010). After taking a couple years off to raise his children and spend time with his wife at the time, Diane, Robert started another company after himself called The Herjavec Group (THG), another Internet security solutions integrator (Mielach, 2012).
According to Branham Group, a Toronto based Technology Consulting firm, THG is Canada’s largest IT security providers and between 2007-2012 grew at a rate of 643% to $125 million in sales and150 employees (Branham, 2012). Today, Robert is still the CEO of THG and because of his successful business career, Robert may be seen on TV as either the “nice dragon” on Dragons Den or dancing with Kym Johnson on Dancing with the Stars
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Discussion
- 3. Analysis
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this biography is to analyze the entrepreneurial journey of Robert Herjavec, examining his key strategies and illustrating how his career exemplifies successful entrepreneurship principles. The analysis focuses on his rags-to-riches story, highlighting his business acumen and the application of entrepreneurial theories to his ventures.
- The importance of passion in entrepreneurial pursuits.
- The strategic role of co-founders and the "Talent Triangle."
- Effective pitching strategies and understanding investor perspectives.
- Identifying market needs and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
- The significance of hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces Robert Herjavec's background, detailing his family's immigration to Canada and his early career struggles. It highlights his perseverance, evident in his first job at Logiquest, where he worked for six months without pay. The chapter emphasizes his founding of BRAK Systems, its eventual sale to AT&T for a substantial sum, and the subsequent establishment of The Herjavec Group (THG), establishing him as a highly successful entrepreneur whose story exemplifies the "rags to riches" narrative. His later public appearances on television shows like "Dragons' Den" and "Dancing with the Stars" showcase his remarkable career trajectory.
2. Discussion: This chapter delves into Herjavec's entrepreneurial philosophy and practices, drawing parallels between his experiences and concepts discussed in the course. Herjavec’s emphasis on passion, avoiding entrepreneurial ventures solely for financial gain, and the importance of deeply loving one’s work are highlighted. The chapter examines the structure and success of The Herjavec Group, analyzing its co-founder team and alignment with the "Talent Triangle" model. Each co-founder’s unique skill set - Robert's business acumen, Sean Higgins’ operational experience, and George Rempond's domain knowledge - are described, illustrating their crucial roles in the company’s success. The chapter also explores Herjavec's insights on successful and unsuccessful pitching strategies based on his experience as a "Dragon" on Dragons' Den, emphasizing honesty, market knowledge, and realistic growth plans.
3. Analysis: This chapter offers an analysis of the effectiveness of Herjavec's strategies, concluding that his entrepreneurial success largely stems from aligning with key theories of entrepreneurship. It emphasizes his identification of market needs, particularly during the dot-com boom, and his skillful assembly of a strong co-founder team representing a balanced "Talent Triangle." The chapter underscores Herjavec's attributes—intelligence, hard work, innovation, and keen market awareness—as crucial factors in his remarkable financial success and the overall growth of his company, which has generated over $500 million in revenue, highlighting the strong impact of his entrepreneurial abilities and strategic decisions.
Keywords
Entrepreneurship, Robert Herjavec, The Herjavec Group, BRAK Systems, Dragons' Den, Talent Triangle, Pitching Strategies, Market Analysis, Success, Innovation, Rags to Riches, Passion, Co-founders.
Robert Herjavec: A Case Study in Entrepreneurial Success - FAQ
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a biography analyzing the entrepreneurial journey of Robert Herjavec. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, offering a structured overview of the analysis.
What are the main objectives and key themes explored in the biography?
The biography aims to analyze Robert Herjavec's entrepreneurial journey, examining his key strategies and illustrating how his career exemplifies successful entrepreneurship principles. Key themes include the importance of passion, the strategic role of co-founders and the "Talent Triangle," effective pitching strategies, identifying market needs, and the significance of hard work and innovation.
What topics are covered in each chapter?
Chapter 1 (Introduction): Introduces Robert Herjavec's background, early career struggles, the founding and sale of BRAK Systems, the establishment of The Herjavec Group (THG), and his public appearances on shows like "Dragons' Den" and "Dancing with the Stars. It emphasizes his "rags to riches" story.
Chapter 2 (Discussion): Delves into Herjavec's entrepreneurial philosophy and practices, focusing on his emphasis on passion, the structure and success of The Herjavec Group, analyzing its co-founder team and their alignment with the "Talent Triangle" model, and exploring his insights on successful pitching strategies.
Chapter 3 (Analysis): Analyzes the effectiveness of Herjavec's strategies, concluding that his success stems from aligning with key entrepreneurship theories. It emphasizes his identification of market needs, his strong co-founder team, and his personal attributes (intelligence, hard work, innovation, and market awareness) as crucial factors in his success.
What are the key takeaways from the analysis of Robert Herjavec's career?
The analysis highlights that Robert Herjavec's success is attributed to a combination of factors: a strong passion for his work, a well-structured co-founder team embodying the "Talent Triangle," effective pitching strategies, keen market awareness, and a dedication to hard work and innovation. His career serves as a strong example of the "rags to riches" narrative in entrepreneurship.
What keywords best describe the content of this biography?
Entrepreneurship, Robert Herjavec, The Herjavec Group, BRAK Systems, Dragons' Den, Talent Triangle, Pitching Strategies, Market Analysis, Success, Innovation, Rags to Riches, Passion, Co-founders.
What is the "Talent Triangle"?
The "Talent Triangle" refers to the ideal composition of a co-founder team, each member bringing a unique and complementary skill set to the venture. In Herjavec's case, this included business acumen (Herjavec), operational experience, and domain expertise.
Where can I find more information about Robert Herjavec?
This document provides a summary. Further details can be found in the full biography (not included here).
- Quote paper
- Blake Sullivan (Author), 2016, The Biography of Robert Herjavec. A Classic “Rags to Riches” Story, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/320437
