Who is Robert Herjavec?
A: Herjavec founded BRAK Systems, a Canadian integrator of Internet security
software, and sold it to AT&T Canada (now Allstream Inc.) in 2000 for $30.2
million.
When was Herjavec born?
A: In 1962.
Where was he born?
A: In Varaždin, SFR, Yugoslavia, and spent his early childhood in Zbjeg.
In 1970, when Herjavec was eight what did the family
do?
A: They left the country, which had previously incarcerated Herjavec's
father, Vladimir, for speaking out against the regime.
Herjavec's family arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with
what?
A: A single suitcase and only $20.
Where did the family eventually settle?
A: In Toronto, where they lived in a family friend's home basement for 18
months.
Herjavec's father got a job in a factory in
Mississauga, making how much money?
A: $76 a week.
Herjavec cites his father, whom he describes as "a
really, really tough guy", as a significant what?
A: Influence in his life.
In 1984, Herjavec graduated from where?
A: New College at the University of Toronto with a degree in English
literature and political science.
To make a living and help support his family, Herjavec
took on various what?
A: Minimum wage jobs in the 1980s, such as waiting tables, delivering
newspapers, retail salesman, and debt collection.
In the mid-1980s, Herjavec worked in several
productions as a what?
A: A third assistant director, including Cain and Abel and The Return of
Billy Jack.
He was a field producer for Global TV of what?
A: The 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
Looking for work between productions, where did
Herjavec apply for a position?
A: At Logiquest selling IBM mainframe emulation boards.
He was not qualified for the position but convinced the
company to give it to him by offering to do what?
A: To work for free for six months.
To pay the rent during this "free" period what did
Herjavec do?
A: He waited tables.
He eventually rose in the ranks to become what?
A: General Manager of Logiquest.
In 1990, after being fired from Logiquest, what did he
do?
A: He founded BRAK Systems, a Canadian integrator of Internet security
software, from the basement of his home.
BRAK Systems was sold to AT&T Canada (now Allstream
Inc.) in March 2000 for how much?
A: $30.2 million.
He then became what?
A: Vice President of Sales at Ramp Network, which was sold to Nokia for $225
million.
In 2003, Herjavec founded what?
A: The Herjavec Group, a security solutions integrator, reseller, and
managed service provider.
In October 2017, Herjavec was phished by "email
prankster" James Linton as the company CEO, inviting him to what?
A: A toga party.
Herjavec has appeared as a regular on what ABC's
series?
A: Shark Tank, where business pitches from aspiring entrepreneurs are
presented to a panel of potential investors.
Herjavec's most successful investment from the show is
what?
A: A $100,000 for a 10% stake in sweater company Tipsy Elves.
On February 24, 2015, Herjavec was announced as one of
the contestants for what?
A: Season 20 of the American edition of Dancing with the Stars.
Who was his partner?
A: Australian dancer (and eventual wife) Kym (Johnson) Herjavec.
On May 5, 2015, during a double-elimination, Herjavec
and Johnson were what?
A: Eliminated and finished in 6th place.
What were his first two books?
A: Driven: How to Succeed in Business and Life (2010) and The Will to Win:
Leading, Competing, Succeeding (2013).