Michael Balen

Michael Balen is a results-oriented and energetic leader with expertise in sales, supply chain management, merchandise planning, and strategy. He has a proven track record of driving profitability and sales growth through innovation, market trend analysis, and product assortment curation to exceed consumer expectations. As a dynamic and motivating team leader, Michael excels in making quick decisions that align with organizational goals and initiatives. He thrives in environments that foster creativity, collaboration, and dynamic thinking, aiming to enhance processes through sustainable innovations for operational efficiency and bottom-line improvement.

With a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michael Balen has held key leadership roles including Vice President, Sales GM at Mad Engine, LLC, Director of Retail Strategy at Hybrid Apparel, and various senior management positions at Target. His specialties encompass a wide range of skills such as P&L management, cross-functional team leadership, competitive analysis, team building, change management, and more. Michael's strengths lie in dynamic leadership, a balance of art and science, bias for action, and talent development, emphasizing the importance of engaging, inspiring, and thoughtful decision-making processes for continuous growth and development.

In addition to his professional roles, Michael Balen has a strong background in sales, brand management, financial planning, forecasting, mentoring, and international expansion. His career has been marked by a focus on personal brand development, customer-centric management, career coaching, and effective relationship management. Michael's experience spans a diverse spectrum of functional areas, showcasing his versatility, strategic acumen, and proficiency in leading successful business operations and driving organizational growth.