They're fierce, sharp, to-the-point, and unapologetic. They're also some of the most successful and wealthy business people in the country. These Dragons know a good business opportunity when it stares them in the face, because they've all been there before.
Robert Herjavec has lived the classic “rags to riches” story. The son of Croatian immigrants, he earned his incredible wealth by overcoming the odds with pure hard work and intuition. He remembers how his mother, who could barely speak English, lost the family savings to a smooth talking vacuum salesman. Since then, Robert vowed he would never let his family be taken advantage of again.
In the early 90’s, Robert eked out a living waiting tables at a posh Yorkville restaurant. During the initial stages of the dot com craze, he realized that technology was the ticket to serious money. By night, he launched BRAK systems, his first technology company. BRAK soon became Canada’s top provider of Internet security software worth a reported $100-hundred million dollars. Robert sold his company to AT&T in 2000. But that was only the start. He then helped negotiate the sale of another technology company to Nokia for $225 million dollars.
Instead of retiring with his cash, Robert now heads The Herjavec Group, listed as one of Canada’s leading and fastest growing IT security and infrastructure integration firms. His palatial 50,000 square foot, $15 million Bridle Path mansion hosts luminaries like Michael Bublé and Mick Jagger. For thrills, Robert jets to a private island near Miami or cruises Yorkville in one of his many luxury cars.
Laurence is a savvy numbers man who brings flare and style to every balance sheet. Early in his career, he was removed from medical school and started his career in the then fledgling computer industry. But in the swinging ‘70s, he immigrated to Montreal, a European-style city and eventually set his eyes on the fashion industry.
In 1990, Laurence co-founded the first La Senza shop, which grew into a chain of stylish and hip lingerie stores. Today, women around the world, from Canada to Australia, slip into La Senza’s stylish bras, panties and chemises. Aside from the silk and glamour, Laurence commands a serious business empire. La Senza now has over 700 stores in 34 countries worldwide that enjoy sales revenues of nearly $500 million in Canada alone.
When he is not dealing in lingerie, Laurence relaxes by sailing or driving his antique fire engine through the countryside to let off some steam.
He's opinionated, he's ruthless, he hungers for big deals and loves to work. Kevin O'Leary is a Canada's best-known businessman turned TV investment superstar on BNN's popular investment show, Squeeze Play.
Kevin's success story starts where most entrepreneurs begin: with a big idea and zero cash. From his basement, he launched The Learning Company, which developed software to help kids learn to read and do math. In 1999, Kevin sold his company to the Mattel Toy Company for a staggering 3.7 billion dollars, one of the largest tech deals in Canadian history.
To keep his money working hard, Kevin took control of his wealth from his lackluster money managers. He shares his tips and tribulations with a national television audience and turns the Street upside down in the process. Kevin is on the investment committee of Boston's prestigious 200-year-old Hamilton Trust, and sits on the advisory board of San Francisco-based Genstar capital, a $1.5-billion private equity firm.
As a self-proclaimed “Eco-preneur” Kevin looks hardest for investments that make money – and are environmentally friendly. He is a director and shareholder of EnGlobe, Canada’s leading integrated environmental services company.
When he's not squeezing the markets from his office in downtown Boston, Kevin keeps in touch with his Canadian roots by escaping for a weekend at his luxurious Muskoka cottage that spreads over prime Canadian wilderness.He's the tough guy with a soft spot for a good deal and a delicious meal. Jim Treliving is the man behind Boston Pizza, Canada's No. 1 casual dining brand. But his background wasn't always in pizza. Jim was an RCMP officer in the rough and tough streets of B.C. and Alberta. During a night shift in Edmonton, he sat down in the original "Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House." It was love at first bite. After doing the math, he traded in his horse and spurs to become a Boston Pizza franchisee. By 1983, Jim and his partner bought the entire company and soon after expanded Boston Pizza across North America. Jim still recalls how his dad thought he was insane to give up his secure policing career to open a small pizza parlour.
Today Boston Pizza International Inc., one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies Platinum Club members, is a franchisor of over 240 restaurants throughout Canada and in 2005 reported over 500 million dollars in sales. Under the brand "Boston's The Gourmet Pizza" the company currently has more than 40 restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico, with plans for expansion into the U.K., Australia, and Asia.
But Jim has multiple investments in other kinds of 'dough' as well. With interests in a diversified group of businesses that include the real estate development, sports entertainment and automotive maintenance industries, his most recent acquisition is Mr. Lube, Canada's best known quick oil-change chain. Jim serves as chairman of both Global Entertainment Corporation, which trades on the American Stock Exchange under GEC, and the Boston Pizza Foundation, raising more than $4.1 million for various Canadian charities. He is also a director of the Canadian Hockey Foundation, dedicated to increasing funding for minor hockey leagues. Jim spends his time working and golfing between Dallas, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
Early in her marketing career, Arlene Dickinson skillfully turned the glass ceiling into a floor. Today, she is one of Canada’s most renowned independent marketing communications entrepreneurs, having grown her company, Venture Communications, into a strategic and creative powerhouse for a blue-chip client list, including Western Canada Lotteries, Toyota (Prairies), Unilever, Encana and Forzani Group Ltd.
After becoming a partner in 1988, she became sole owner of Venture in 1998. Arlene is a fervent believer that marketing’s purpose is to deliver business results. She is well known for pioneering how marketing can be accountable to delivering on its clients' business goals.
Her accomplishments, vision and leadership have been recognized with a number of honours and awards. They include: PROFIT and Chatelaine magazine’s TOP 100 Women Business Owners; the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence; Global Television Woman of Vision; and Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100. Venture was also recognized as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada for three consecutive years.
Arlene’s vision has driven Venture’s growth to three offices, in Toronto, Ottawa and the head office in Calgary, which occupies a 100-year-old sandstone school. When she is not advancing the cause of marketing innovation, Arlene loves to sit in the sun with a good book, and her Blackberry set to stun.
