Robert Herjavec knows a thing or two about starting from nothing, and this week, he brought that message directly to students who need to hear it most.
The beloved “Shark Tank” investor made a special appearance at Reading Area Community College in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, taking part in a meet-and-greet and speaking to a crowd gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the school’s Schmidt Training and Technology Center. It was the kind of moment that felt personal for Herjavec, and for good reason.
A Message That Hits Different Coming From Him
Herjavec didn’t just show up to shake hands. He showed up to challenge the narrative that success requires a fancy degree or a background in tech. “You know, everybody today thinks you need AI and fancy degrees and all of this stuff,” he told the crowd. “My dad was a blue collar maintenance mechanic, and this is all very familiar to me. You can make a great life learning very mechanical, tactical skills.”
Coming from Herjavec, that message carries real weight. He was born in Croatia, then part of communist Yugoslavia, and was just eight years old when his family fled to Canada with virtually nothing. He spent his early years taking on minimum wage jobs to help support his family before eventually working his way into the tech industry, ultimately building and selling multiple companies and founding one of North America’s leading cybersecurity firms.
When asked what drove him, Herjavec has said his only real goal was to lift himself and his immigrant parents out of poverty. “I just didn’t want to be poor,” he has said. That simplicity, and the grit behind it, is exactly what makes his message to students so resonant.
Why the Visit Mattered
The Schmidt Training and Technology Center, which the school says offers customized training programs designed to meet employers’ changing needs, is precisely the kind of institution Herjavec was celebrating. It’s a place built on the idea that practical, hands-on skills can open just as many doors as a traditional four-year degree — a message Herjavec has championed throughout his career.
“I love speaking to students. I love speaking to faculty. I love seeing environments like this,” he said during his visit.
From the Tank to the Classroom
On “Shark Tank,” Herjavec uses his experience building and growing businesses to offer valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, backing bold ideas and helping founders at the earliest stages of their journey. Over the course of the show, he has invested over $16 million across more than 57 deals, with his most successful investment being Tipsy Elves — a novelty sweater company that has gone on to achieve over $317 million in lifetime sales.
Now in its 17th season on ABC, “Shark Tank” remains as competitive as ever. Season 17 welcomes back Herjavec alongside returning Sharks Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky, and Kevin O’Leary, and features more guest Sharks than any previous season — including Chip and Joanna Gaines and Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth. In Season 17 alone, Herjavec has already teamed up with Lori Greiner and guest shark Rashaun Williams in a three-way deal for Dad Strength Brewing, a low-ABV craft beer company. He’s clearly showing no signs of slowing down.
Reflecting on the milestone of Season 17, Herjavec said: “I can’t believe we’re celebrating Season 17 of Shark Tank! When I first sat in that chair, I had no idea the impact this show would have on me, and on millions of people watching at home. The best part? After all these years, I’m still inspired, still learning, and still just as excited every time those doors open and a new entrepreneur walks into the Tank.”
Visits like Tuesday’s are a reminder that for Herjavec, the work of inspiring the next generation doesn’t stop when the cameras turn off. Whether he’s in the Tank or in a community college auditorium in Pennsylvania, the message is the same — your background doesn’t define your ceiling.
