GenXYZ: David Levin, 36

President and CEO, Four Winds Interactive

Maria Martin //October 21, 2013//

GenXYZ: David Levin, 36

President and CEO, Four Winds Interactive

Maria Martin //October 21, 2013//

Levin has been a key influencer and developer of the digital signage market since 2005.

Why the sign business?

I could see there would be a huge demand for digital signage, and we think we’re still at the early stage of the curve. We have hundreds of hotels using us, and look at all the schools, airports and other businesses that could benefit from our service.

How do you go about being the industry leader?

By having the best products and the best people. We’ve been here for eight years, and we’ve grown significantly every year. We have employees in 10 countries outside of the U.S., and we opened a satellite office in Miami.

You started this business from the ground up. Did you realize you wanted to be an entrepreneur in school?

I knew it long before then. I remember being in the student council and being excited about bake sales. I was in fifth grade and excited about baked goods. It’s just something that was in me. Some people are great artists. I’m a great PowerPoint presenter!

What qualities does an entrepreneur need to succeed?

A breadth of skills helps. The broader your experience, the better off you’ll be. And you need persistence. You have to have the desire for smart people to want to work with you. And it helps to have a sense of humor. I look for people who are excellent in things outside of work. If you’re a great athlete or chef, you’re likely to apply that passion to work, as well.