Robert Herjavec’s Journey From Refugee to Shark Tank Investor

Robert Herjavec is back this season as an investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” but his path to the boardroom started far from Hollywood. Before becoming a household name in business television, Herjavec was an 8-year-old refugee who couldn’t speak a word of English.

Escaping Communist Yugoslavia

Herjavec’s father, Vladimir, was arrested 22 times by Yugoslav authorities for refusing to join the Communist Party and speaking out against the government. His mother, Katica, worked to support the family while young Robert temporarily lived with his grandmother in a small village. By 1970, Vladimir decided the family had endured enough. Under cover of night, they crossed from Yugoslavia into Italy, eventually boarding a ship bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia — arriving with just $50 and a handful of suitcases.

Building a Business From the Ground Up

The Herjavecs settled in Toronto, where Vladimir found factory work and Katica cleaned houses. Robert, despite not speaking English, quickly caught up academically after being placed with younger classmates. His entrepreneurial streak began early, delivering newspapers at age 12. In his early 20s, he took an unpaid office manager role at a small tech startup just to gain experience. His dedication paid off — he eventually earned a salary and equity in the company, which was later sold for a substantial payout.

That windfall became the seed money for the Herjavec Group, an IT security firm he launched from his basement in 1990. The company has since grown into one of Canada’s most successful private businesses, transforming Herjavec from a refugee with nothing into a recognized name in global entrepreneurship — and a mentor to aspiring business owners on “Shark Tank.”