David Bellini is the accomplished CEO of CyberFox, a leading cybersecurity firm. Born in New York and raised in Tampa, Florida, David’s journey in the tech industry began after earning an accounting degree from the University of Florida. In 1984, he co-founded ConnectWise with his brother Arnie Bellini, nurturing it into a powerhouse with over 1,000 employees before its sale to Thoma Bravo in 2018 for $1.3 billion. Following this success, David continued to expand his influence in tech by acquiring PassWord Boss in 2020 and AutoElevate in 2022, later merging them to form CyberFox in 2023. His strategic vision and leadership have earned him accolades, including the Entrepreneur of the Year for Florida in 2014. Beyond his professional endeavors, David serves on the board of Corbett Preparatory School of IDS and enjoys contributing to educational initiatives, emphasizing his commitment to community and innovation.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts with a review of my schedule and top priorities. I spend the morning addressing critical business needs and communicating with my team to ensure we’re aligned. To stay productive, I rely heavily on structured time management practices and delegate tasks effectively to focus on strategic decision-making.
How do you bring ideas to life?
It involves brainstorming sessions with diverse teams to encourage creative thinking and obtain different perspectives. Once we refine an idea, we prototype rapidly, test it in real scenarios, and iterate based on feedback.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The integration of AI and machine learning in cybersecurity excites me. These technologies can significantly enhance our ability to detect and respond to threats faster than ever, potentially revolutionizing how we secure digital assets.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Starting my day with a clear agenda is a habit that has consistently enhanced my productivity. Knowing exactly what needs to be achieved during the day helps me stay focused and efficient.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d advise my younger self to embrace risk more openly and worry less about failure. Every setback is a stepping stone to success if you learn from it and persist.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that true innovation often requires disregarding current trends and market demands to focus on building foundational technologies that may not have immediate applications but will pave the way for future advancements.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Reflect on your experiences. Regular reflection allows me to understand what strategies work, which don’t, and how I can improve both personally and professionally.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take a break to clear my mind. This helps me reset and gain new perspectives on what’s causing the overwhelm.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Always building and expanding on my connections with people. Whether it’s with team members, partners, or customers, having a solid network based on trust and mutual respect has opened many doors for opportunities.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I underestimated the importance of company culture. After facing significant staff turnover, I learned to prioritize a positive work environment and clear communication, which turned out to be key to retaining talent.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A platform that facilitates real-time, AI-driven simulations of cyber attacks for companies to train their staff effectively could be revolutionary in enhancing cybersecurity measures.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I rely on Asana for project management. It helps me keep track of all tasks, deadlines, and progress across different teams, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“How To Win Friends and Influence People” has been instrumental in shaping my approach to business, emphasizing agility, and the importance of adapting to change quickly.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed watching “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix. It was a thought-provoking take on the impact of social media on privacy and society, which is particularly relevant to my field in cybersecurity.
Key learnings
- Embrace Collaboration and Reflection
- Prioritize Relationships and Culture
- Leverage Technology