David Stouck

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

“Outgoing world-traveler with a decade of experience scouting and signing pop talent, and building and leading teams at a major record label.”

Hometown: Potomac, Maryland

Fun Fact About Yourself: At 7 years old, I won the 1999 Maryland State Pokemon Championship. I competed against 500+ players of all ages, and won the tournament with my trusted entourage of Mewtwo, Articuno, and Gengar.

Undergraduate School and Major: Wesleyan University, Double Major in Sociology & East Asian Studies with a focus in Chinese Philosophy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Warner Music Group, Vice President of A&R, Asia

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA curriculum or programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Everyone I’ve spoken to has highlighted the unique collaborative spirit at Kellogg. I’ve always wanted to pursue an MBA and was initially drawn to Kellogg by its prestige and excellence in marketing and business management, but ultimately the school’s reputation for teamwork and the overall social experience is what pulled me over the line.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Although I’ve never personally been to Chicago before starting my MBA, the city has always played a special role in my life. Growing up, I was deeply influenced and inspired by the Chicago music scene. As a Jazz drummer, I learned the rudiments playing along to Earth, Wind and Fire and Herbie Hancock. As a teenager I used to drive to school listening to mixtapes by Hip Hop legends like Common, Lupe Fiasco, and Kanye West. Chicago sits at the intersection of America’s rich cultural legacy and economic development, facilitating some of the most fascinating business opportunities in my industry.

Kellogg is known for a team-driven culture. What quality do you bring as a teammate and why will it be so important to the success of MBA class? I believe success is defined by making the people around me successful. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to build and lead several teams across borders and disciplines, and I’ve seen firsthand the lasting impact a community with a shared sense of purpose can instill in the world around us. At 27 years old, I moved across the world to Hong Kong, a city I’d never been to before. As the head of A&R for Warner Music Asia, I was responsible for assembling a team of creatives to scout and sign pop talent from 11 regional markets and help artists manifest their lifelong dreams across borders and language barriers. To do this successfully required trusting my teammates and the unique knowledge and perspectives they each brought to the table. I had to acknowledge where my expertise fell short and empower others to step in and influence the decision-making process and creative direction of our campaigns. Coming from a foreign background, I came to appreciate the value of cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary collaboration as a vehicle to breaking into new markets and bringing our artists success.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Northwestern Kellogg? I’m excited to immerse myself in the entrepreneurial network, explore the broader Chicago music community, and continue sharpening my Chinese conversational skills with other international students at Kellogg… And I hear there’s a Ski Club too!

What has been your first impression of the Kellogg MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Kellogg story so far. Simply put, the alumni I’ve met are kind, down-to-earth, and eager to move beyond small talk to and dive into meaningful discussions that challenge the status quo. To my surprise, since I’ve shared online that I will be attending Kellogg, many of my past business partners have reached out and shared that they too are alumni of Kellogg – it’s a small world after all!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At 27 years old, Warner Music Group promoted me from Senior Manager of Revenue Assurance to Vice President of A&R in Asia. This was a newly-created role in the company, and I was tasked with leading the Asia office’s transition from a primarily international marketing company to a domestically-driven business. Over the past 5 years, I have signed over 200 recording artists across 11 markets in Asia and hired a plethora of local A&R staff in the region. My single greatest accomplishment was planning and leading Warner Music’s first Asia Regional A&R conference, bringing together 55 A&Rs from 13 markets for a 3-day conference of panels, training exercises, and music sharing sessions. Witnessing the community I built come together and bridge cultural differences across markets and languages was both personally fulfilling as a leader, as well as professionally impactful helping to move-the-needle for our company’s broader financial goals.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? Coming from the creative side of the music industry, I have been privileged to work with and support some of the most influential creative minds around the globe. Over the next 2 years, I hope to bolster my global rolodex and music business acumen with the financial knowledge and entrepreneurial skills necessary to step into a senior leadership position at a major label, or to launch my own company at the intersection of artist services, financial technology, and community-building enterprises.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to 5 programs in total, including Northwestern, Stanford, Harvard, INSEAD, and Berkeley.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA program? In my opinion, business school is not a place one goes to find themselves. Given both the cost and time investment required to pursue an MBA, it’s important to be very clear with yourself about what you are looking for in the experience and focus your application and school selection around your personal and professional goals.

DON’T MISS: MEET NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG’S MBA CLASS OF 2026