User:RasoolVerjee/sandbox

Rasool Verjee
Rasool Verjee (born 5 April 1952) is an Indian origin, Uganda born serial entrepreneur. He migrated to Canada in 1985. A graduate of Cambridge University his career is marked by innovation and entrepreneurial success.

In 2023, after open heart surgery he hangs up his hat as an entrepreneur in pursuit of money to embark on a spiritual journey to find his Ikigai. His life is fusion of diverse cultural influences, a relentless zest for living and a commitment to finding his purpose.

Speaks Swahili, a few words of Zulu and a language of his own. He is the Author of Success Uncomplicated. Currently working on his latest book - Nugget Road.

Married to Nima Verjee with whom he has a daughter and a son.

Early life and education
Rasool graduated from Cambridge University with degrees in Law. He opted not to practice law. Instead returned to Kenya, where he embraced the role of an impresario, setting the stage for a career marked by innovation and entrepreneurial success.

He brought Boney M to Kenya in 1978. He discovered top model Khadija Adam who was the face of Africa at Eric Morley’s Miss World Pageant. She went on to have a successful modelling career becoming Yves Saint Laurent’s muse and a favourite of Christian Lacroix. He represented Kenya at the Bridge Olympics in Biarittz, France.

Career
He emigrated to Canada in 1985, where his career has been marked by successful entrepreneurial endeavors that span the globe.

Rasool exhibits a passion for making ideas succeed, and has a keen sense of market opportunities and timing, a strong results-orientation, combined with an ability to pull together the right team around a project.

An early pioneer in Interactive Voice technology he started Telemagix, which went on to become Telepersonals, the Night Exchange and LavaLife, North America’s leading dating service.

In the early 80’s utilizing IVR technology he partnered with AT&T and Teleglobe to generate millions of minutes of Audiotex traffic globally.

He established the first domestic pay-per-call audiotex services in Italy and the Czech Republic.

In the early years of Telecom deregulation he worked with Tier One carriers to establish profitable wholesale routes with a focus on Africa.

In Canada he saw the early opportunity in providing competitive long distance rates to mobile users and created MobileMiser as a disruptive service targeted at cellphone users calling international through an app on their phone.

Film
He produced Aasif Mandhvi in Sakina’s Restaurant. As Chairman of SoulLife Records, in partnership with Ahmet Ertegun, he helped launch the career of Sunshine Anderson.

He has served on the boards of the United World Colleges of America West and the Hilde Back Education Foundation. He was a member of the Children’s Circle of Care created by Hilary Clinton, to honour individuals who donate $50,000 to a Children’s Hospital in North America.

He is presently working on two documentaries and a film project.