S4E3: Why Predictability Beats Flexibility in Global Trade with Hapag-Lloyd North America President Stuart Sandlin

For the third episode of Season 4, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by Stuart Sandlin, president of Hapag-Lloyd North America, for a candid conversation about how global supply chains hold together when conditions refuse to stabilize. Drawing on extensive experience in ocean shipping and global trade, Sandlin shares insights on Red Sea disruptions, Panama Canal capacity, shifting trade routes, and the operational and financial realities of longer transit times. The conversation centers on why predictability often outperforms flexibility, how leaders can manage expectations when certainty isn’t possible, and which behaviors help organizations execute credibly under pressure. This episode offers practical perspective for supply chain professionals and executives navigating risk, reliability, and decision-making in a changing global environment. Plus, Ted and Tom break down the latest supply chain signals and headlines, including holiday demand performance, tariff-driven ordering shifts, and more.The episode was recorded virtually on January 26, 2026.  Related links:    Download free white papers from UT experts. Save the date for the Spring Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23  Learn about our SCM Academy programs, including upcoming virtual courses on Leadership (spring registration closed), Finance (March 2–May 3), and Planning (March 11–May 10) Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars  Become a GSCI partner  Follow GSCI on LinkedIn  Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter   Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!