David Wander can’t remember the last time he had a Saturday free. And it’s not just because he’s the chief digital officer of Roc Nation, tasked with managing digital operations across offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, and São Paulo, Brazil, that support the careers of over 400 musicians, athletes, personalities, and brands around the globe. It’s because Wander is a whirlwind entrepreneur who strives for excellence and thrives on hard work and dedication—it’s in his DNA.
“Ever since I was a kid—and as long as I can remember—I was always hustling and working,” Wander said.
Earlier this year, Wander was selected for the “2024 Alum of the Year Award,” a recognition presented by the Toppel Career Center to an alum who is achieving outstanding professional success in their career and/or making significant contributions to enhance current students' career development.
Wander got his gift of gab from his father, a New York/New Jersey native, and his work ethic from his mother, an immigrant from Lithuania.
Yet Wander, who grew up in New Jersey, especially credits his grandfather with instilling in him the drive and force that’s fueled his successful career.
“My grandparents on my mother’s side were Holocaust survivors. My grandmother never spoke about it, but my grandfather told me many stories—to the point that I visited some of the camps,” Wander said. “When he came to America (Brooklyn), he didn’t speak any English, but he learned it, got a job working in a garage as a glazier, and ended up owning the shop. It was this life-or-death mentality—that you need to work and have pride in your work, put your mind, body, and soul into it because you don’t know what is going to happen—that I learned from him.”
Wander would often travel to South Florida to visit his “snowbird” grandparents, and he fell in love with the area. When it came time for college, he couldn’t imagine a better option than the University but had no idea how to get in.
On campus one day, he was wandering near the business school and bumped into EllenMarie McPhillip, today the associate dean of programs at the School of Education and Human Development.
“I told her about my passions; she pulled me aside and spent two hours explaining the application process. We built this great relationship, and she’s been nothing but supportive ever since,” Wander said.
Wander graduated in 2008 on the dean’s list with a B.B.A. degree in business management and organization with a double minor in marketing and music business and entertainment industry. While at the University, he garnered experience through his involvement with Hurricane Productions, the Music Entertainment Industries Student Association (MEISA), ’Cane Records, and Grammy U. He also had a job every semester working as an aide to faculty to help pay his tuition.
As a junior, he was offered a college representative position with Fontana Distribution (now known as Virgin Music Group, Universal Music Group’s independent division), where he served as the entertainment agency’s South Florida rep organizing events on campus, in record stores, studios, and maintaining inventory. He excelled and received a Droz Star Performer award (i.e., representative of the year).
“Given the opportunity to attend UM, I wouldn’t let my studies fall, but I wasn’t just relying on graduating and having good grades—it was like running on full cylinders all the time,” Wander recalled. “In terms of education, you have to have this force in you while being a sponge and taking everything in.”
The message from one class in particular made a lasting impression.
“The professor had us read ‘The Godfather,’ and the lesson was about knowing your audience and how to achieve the goals you’re striving for. You need to do your research and understand the people you’re speaking to,” he said.
Though he’s enmeshed in technology, Wander is a huge proponent of in-person meetings and picking up the phone.
“Anyone who’s ever dealt with me knows I’m a people person. I want to see success in people; see them thrive and grow,” Wander said. “A lot of what I’ve done is just hard work—there’s nothing shameless about standing outside a venue for hours passing out flyers or working at a record store and having strangers sing a song to you—these situations will make you comfortable feeling uncomfortable.
“In person or on the phone, you can’t hide,” Wander said. “I tell my team all the time (if something’s amiss), pick up the phone, reset the relationship; things get taken out of context on text and email. The best is always in person, but otherwise talk to them on the phone because a lot can get lost in translation. You always want to have that human connectivity.”
