Shark Tank & Dragon’s Den
Best known for his role on the CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Kevin O’Leary’s impressive reputation has been built upon his entrepreneurial vision, investment smarts and drive to succeed. In addition to being one of the Dragons, O’Leary is the co-host of BNN’s SqueezePlay, the host of BNN’s O’Leary Live, and a ‘Shark’ on the ABC show, Shark Tank. He is also a host on the CBC News world’s business show, Lang & O’Leary Exchange, Chairman of O’Leary Funds, and the chairman of the investment committee of Boston’s 107 year old Hamilton Trust.
Born in Montreal, O’Leary is the son of a United Nations ILO official, which contributed greatly to his diverse cultural and educational experiences. He was educated in countries around the world, and he received an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Psychology from the University of Waterloo. In 1980, O’Leary earned his MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
In 1986, O’Leary co-founded SoftKey Software Products, and by the late 1990s, SoftKey had acquired numerous competitor companies including Compton’s New Media, The Learning Company, Mindscape and Broderbund. In 1999, the company was sold to the Mattel Toy Company for $3.7 billion, which is one of the largest deals ever done in the consumer software industry.
O’Leary became co-investor and a director in Storage Now, and in 2007, he joined the advisory board of Genstar Capital LLC. As a self-proclaimed “Eco-preneur” O’Leary’s focus is on investments that make money and are environmentally friendly. He is the founding investor and director of Stream Global, and is currently working as the entrepreneur/investor co-host for the Discovery Channel’s, Discovery Project Earth, a new program that explores Innovative ways humanity could reverse global warming.
O’Leary has developed a cult following among financial professionals and smart investors with his pull-no-punches look at the good, the bad and the ugly with respect to the markets and investment opportunities. Within his various television roles, his opinionated nature has won over millions, and he continues to impress with his audiences with professional tips and personal anecdotes.
In addition to serving on the executive board of The Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, O’Leary is a member of the investment committee of Boston’s Hamilton Trust and an investor and director of EnGlobe.
In unrelated news, Kevin is a connoisseur of wine and launched his own brand in 2009.
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An Evening With Kevin O’Leary
From modest beginnings, Kevin O’Leary built a company worth more than $4 billion dollars. Since then, he has become an internationally recognized investor, respected commentator, and much more. Kevin’s life experiences have included not only great successes, but also many challenges, adventures, risks taken and lessons learned. At select live speaking events, you can hear first hand as Kevin shares the top insights he learned along the way.
Kevin speaks openly about his upbringing, including the important lessons he learned from his parents and from his stepfather. Some of these lessons, especially those from his mother, Georgette, have stuck with Kevin until today. Kevin describes how important those lessons were for his success and how you can learn from them as well.
In his speaking engagements, Kevin delves into what it’s like to be Dragon and a Shark. Kevin discusses his relationships with the other Dragons, why he approaches entrepreneurs as the “Merchant of Truth”, and what it takes to get a deal on the show. Razor sharp and quick on his feet, Kevin pulls no punches in his enlightening and timely talks.
Lessons From a Dragon
Kevin O’Leary will take you on a behind the scenes look at his two hit shows, Dragons’ Den & Shark Tank. He customizes every presentation for his audience to bring unique business information to each event. He’ll share entertaining and insightful outtakes from his TV shows – video’s you can’t see anywhere else, along with a current economic overview and how it relates to your industry, and finally he’ll be a ‘secret agent’ for your industry with insights into how your industry is performing, where the innovation is coming from and more. All based on a content review of your industry prior to the event.
Cold Hard Truth
Kevin O’Leary, one of North America’s most successful entrepreneurs, reveals the secrets that made him rich, and shares his personal advice for readers from every walk of life. Kevin describes his incredible journey, from his sometimes difficult childhood to the way he built his first company, managed personal pressures, and ultimately achieved remarkable success. His advice is engaging and practical – and will help those who read it become the best entrepreneurs and business people that they can be. Topics cover business, money and life, including: How to find your calling and turn your talents into a profitable venture; building a dream team; transforming adversity into opportunity and making and growing your business–and your money.
