David Shteif, EVP of Corporate Development at Digital Media Solutions (DMS), leads the mergers & acquisitions (M&A) activity for DMS, a leading digital performance marketing company. By always prioritizing relationships, Shteif has implemented business opportunities at a frequency and scale unmatched by most entrepreneurs.
From his early years of “sweeping floors” at a TV production company, Shteif learned that authentic conversations led to meaningful relationships which led to business opportunities. Often, business professionals would share their challenges with Shteif, and Shteif quickly pivoted to a career of formulating and executing solutions.
In addition to being a Co-Founder of DMS, a public company since 2020, Shteif has launched and/or scaled and successfully exited 5 business ventures, including Revenue Enhancement Group, Media Trust / Ad Valiant, DM Buyers and Media Edge. Because of his early and continued success, Shteif admits to having been “caught up in the new car smell” as his entrepreneurial career took off and believes better planning would have put him on an earlier path to greater achievements. Once Shteif began working with a mentor - someone more successful than him who was able to demonstrate the next level of business - Shteif realized filtering opportunities was as important as scaling his win volume.
Vowing to support entrepreneurs like him, Shteif is now sharing his story and the lessons he’s learned throughout his career. Throughout everything he teaches, Shteif emphasizes people and relationships. Although most professionals say “time is money,” Shteif says that is a fallacy. “Relationships are money,” he argues. Shteif encourages all prospective entrepreneurs - and all professionals - to prioritize relationships early and often.
In his current role, leading corporate development at DMS, Shteif continues to grow his network. Through thought leadership content and one-to-one conversations, Shteif is actively helping entrepreneurs and business owners move past their ceilings of complexity. People, funding and technology are hurdles for many scaling companies. With those common challenges in mind, Shteif is helping the owners of stalled companies determine the steps needed to invest in the futures of themselves and their businesses.
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