Original Air Date: February 24, 2013
It’s the debut episode of “The Raja Show”, and host Raja kicks off the show by discussing the show’s mission, as well as the role that his friend, the late Ron Morris, played in inspiring him to start a show aimed at promoting the American dream. Plus, Raja talks with Roger Byford of TiE Pittsburgh, as well as Pennsylvania State Representative Rick Saccone about their experiences in pursuit of the American dream.
When Raja, the co-founder and chairman of an Inc 500 IT services company, wanted to spread his message that entrepreneurship and innovation should be the driving forces that spur the growth of a region, he first tried the political arena. After he lost the election last November, like any resilient entrepreneur, Raja went back to the drawing board to keep his mission alive. For inspiration, he reflected upon the recent passing of serial entrepreneur Ron Morris, a longtime colleague and friend of Raja, as well as the host of the long-running business-based talk show, “The American Entrepreneur.”
After much collaboration with, and support from, Ron’s wife, Karen Morris, Raja began laying the groundwork on a business-themed radio show of his own, “The Raja Show” a one-hour weekly broadcast airing Sunday afternoons at 12:00 PM EST on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA in Pittsburgh.
Raja aims to present the stories of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, as well as his own unique story, to inspire individuals to succeed in their own business endeavors, and to inspire business and political leaders to come together to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses as a whole.
“If there’s anything I learned from months on the campaign trail is that everyone has an incredible story,” Raja notes. “The Pittsburgh region is still a place where a man or woman with a good idea, supportive family, hard work and some old fashioned grit can bring their dreams to life. We still dream big dreams in Pittsburgh!”
While Karen Morris’s contributions to the success of her late husband’s radio show were primarily behind the scenes, she has picked up where Ron left off when it comes to fostering entrepreneurship throughout the region. She sees Raja as the perfect voice to continue the broadcast promotion of the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in our society.
“Ron made sure to close every show he did by saying that ‘Your dreams are 100% in your hands.’ I can’t think of too many people who personify that idea more than Raja. He and Ron had shared a belief that true success is created only when we’re free to pursue our own dreams and explore the unlimited potential of America.
And when it comes to Raja’s voice, the Indian-American entrepreneur acknowledges that his accent has become one of his defining qualities. “Even though my accent isn’t American, my story definitely is.”
The Raja Show is a weekly radio show, hosted by successful IT entrepreneur Raja, that profiles the stories of entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the United States. The program airs Sunday afternoons at Noon EST on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA Pittsburgh. For more information, check out TheRajaShow.com.
After starting an IT services firm out of a spare bedroom in his suburban Pittsburgh apartment, Raja oversaw the growth of the firm en route to becoming an INC 500 company, picking up numerous regional accolades along the way. For his efforts, Raja was named Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008. That same year he brought his passion for service to the public sector, serving as President of the Commission of Mt. Lebanon, a Pittsburgh suburb where he currently resides with his wife Neeta and his two daughters Isana and Omisa.
Raja is teaming up with NewsRadio 1020 KDKA to bring the struggles and triumphs of the American Dream to the airwaves! The Raja Sho promos are running throughout the week on the air and online. As one of the few Indian-American voices on FM radio, Raja brings a fresh blend of entrepreneurial savvy and street smarts to the public square.
