Dan Krouse: From the Wild West of Global Supply Chains to Leading Through Chaos

What does it look like to build a global supply chain…before there was a playbook?

That’s exactly what Dan Krouse (see his bio below) did.

In this episode, Dan shares his journey from small-town Indiana to becoming a corporate officer at Hallmark, leading global procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations across a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

Early in his career, a single conversation led to a 12-year international assignment in Hong Kong, where Dan helped build supplier networks from scratch, including finding partners in Sri Lanka with nothing but a briefcase and a question.

We talk about:

• Leading in the “Wild West” of global sourcing
• Building credibility as a young leader in high-stakes environments
• Why direct communication is a leadership advantage
• The difference between firefighting and real problem-solving
• What it means to leave a legacy beyond your role

Dan also shares his transition after 35+ years at Hallmark and how he reinvented himself as an advisor helping companies navigate supply chain strategy, tariffs, and operational change.

This is a conversation about leadership, reinvention, and thriving in uncertainty.

 

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About Dan: Dan Krouse is the founder of Supply Chain Analytics (SCA) and a seasoned executive leader with deep expertise in supply chain, operations, and strategic transformation. Since launching his firm in 2017, Dan has helped small and mid-sized companies improve performance through tariffs, cost management, analytics, and end-to-end supply chain optimization.

Prior to SCA, Dan spent decades at Hallmark Cards, where he rose to Corporate Officer and led global procurement, logistics, and operations across a $2.5B business. Known for challenging the status quo and driving meaningful change, he has built and led high-performing teams across North America, Asia, and Europe.

Dan holds an MBA from Indiana University and a BS from Purdue, and is a sought-after advisor and speaker on supply chain strategy and business transformation.