69. David Shein, OIF Ventures | The smartest reputation strategy is being yourself
Your Digital ReputationShow Notes
Most conventional wisdom about executive profile building starts with being seen, and having an opinion. But what if the smartest strategy was almost the opposite?
David Shein built ComTech Communications from an idea into what many consider Australia's first tech unicorn, sold it, and now backs the next generation of founders as co-founder of OIF Ventures. He is also the author of a book that tells you exactly how he sees himself: The Dumbest Guy at the Table.
He will happily tell you he is "not very good" at social media.
Look a little closer, though, and it turns out he is doing the single most valuable thing a leader can do online: he never shows up for himself, but spends his time backing founders, crediting his own team and lifting other people up.
In this conversation, he and host Roger Christie discuss why integrity and consistency are not leadership soft skills, but commercial ones. They talk about culture as a genuine asset, why empathy and high performance go hand in hand, and the one thing that has not changed across four decades from PCs to AI: every company still has customers, staff and business partners, and how you treat those three decides everything.
David is candid on the fear that kept him honest, on being the same person whether he's in the boardroom or replying to a LinkedIn comment, and on why the "dumbest" way for leaders to use these platforms might just be the smartest. Because - online or offline - it's about focusing on others, and being true to yourself.
TIMESTAMPS 02:21 - From South Africa to Australia's first tech unicorn 04:43 - Building ComTech, and what "legendary customer service" really meant 08:23 - Why empathy and high performance go hand in hand 11:23 - Products change, people don't: the one constant in four decades 19:53 - Words that match actions, and the fear that kept him honest 22:29 - The same person in every room: the Cisco speech story 26:12 - Listening more than broadcasting: David's 40-to-1 ratio 33:46 - Why the "dumbest" strategy is actually the smartest
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