Laudy Allan, SVP Global Operations, Crayola: Stop Solving the Wrong Problem

From People Solve Problems by Jamie Flinchbaugh

May 13, 2026 · 24 min

About this episode

Laudy Allan discusses effective problem-solving strategies and the importance of involving the right people in the process.

Laudy Allan, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Crayola LLC, brings nearly two decades of operational leadership to a conversation that challenges some of the most common assumptions about how organizations approach problem-solving. Responsible for U.S. manufacturing, global logistics, transportation, customer service, engineering, and facilities, Laudy has spent her career building the systems, cultures, and habits that allow teams to face problems with curiosity rather than avoidance. In this episode of People Solve Problems, she shares the principles behind that work. One of the central ideas Laudy returns to throughout the conversation is the importance of involving the right people early. For her, that means prioritizing those closest to the problem, not necessarily those with the most credentials or experience with structured tools. She describes how mixing people who are deeply embedded in a process with those who are naturally curious and driven creates productive tension. That diversity of thought, she argues, is where the best questions emerge and where genuine accountability takes root. Structured problem-solving is what makes that collaboration possible…

People in this episode

Host: Jamie Flinchbaugh

Guest: Laudy Allan

Topics covered

problem-solving
operational leadership
team collaboration
data analysis
manufacturing
logistics

Keywords

problem-solving
operational leadership
team dynamics
data clarity
manufacturing
logistics
curiosity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Crayola LLC