Carter Cast

Carter Cast is the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management.

Carter started his career in marketing management at PepsiCo, working for the company's international food service division. He then moved to the Frito-Lay division, where he led the development of Tostitos Scoops! and the Tostitos salsas and dips product line. Upon leaving PepsiCo, Carter joined Electronic Arts, where he served as vice president of product marketing and marketing communications, launching products in the EA Sports franchise as well as The Sims. He left Electronic Arts to become the founding chief marketing officer of Blue Nile, which became the leading seller of diamonds and fine jewelry on the internet. Carter later went to Walmart, where he became the CEO of Walmart.com, leading the division to become the third-highest volume retailer behind Amazon and eBay.

In 2011, Carter joined the faculty of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where he teaches entrepreneurship and leadership. Carter has received the Impact Award from his students six times and received the Sidney J. Levy award for teaching excellence in 2018 and 2020. He has been nominated for Professor of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Carter was awarded an endowed chair in 2019, becoming the Michael S. and Mary Sue Shannon Professor of Entrepreneurship.

Carter is also a venture partner for Pritzker Group Venture Capital, where he assesses potential investments and advises portfolio companies. He is also a senior advisor for the Pritzker Private Capital group. Carter sits on the boards of Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), SMS Assist, Interior Define and the Family Action Network. Carter is also the author of an award-winning book, The Right (and Wrong) Stuff: How Brilliant Careers are Made - and Unmade, which was released by PublicAffairs, a division of Hachette Book Group, in January, 2018. Business Insider called it "one of 17 must-read books for 2018" and Forbes named it as one of the six "best self-help books to keep you motivated until 2020 (and beyond)."

Education

• M.B.A., 1992, Strategy, Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
• B.A., 1985, Political Science, Stanford University

Academic Positions

• Clinical Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2016-present
• Clinical Associate Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Northwestern University, 2014-2016
• Clinical Associate Professor of Management, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern Universtiy, 2013-2014
• Clinical Assistant Professor of Management, General Management, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2011-2013

Professional Experience

• Venture Partner, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, 2012-present
• CEO, Hayneedle, Inc., 2007-2011
• President and Chief Executive Officer, WAL-MART STORES, INC., 2005-2007
• Senior Vice President, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, WAL-MART STORES, INC., 2000-2005
• Senior Vice President, BLUE NILE, INC., 2000-2000
• Vice President, BLUE NILE, INC., 2000-1999

Awards

• Awarded an endowed chair in 2019. (The Michael S. And Mary Sue Shannon Professor of Entrepreneurship)
• Nota Bene Speaker for Full-time program (2019 and 2020)
• Kellogg Nota Bene Speaker for Part-Time Program
• Sidney J. Levy Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2018
• Faculty Impact Award for MBA Teaching, 2012-17
• Kellogg Nota Bene Speaker for MBA Programs (2015, 2016, 2018)
• Nominated for the L.G. Lavengood Outstanding Professor of the Year Award (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020)