What happened to all of the posts about Balvinder?
15 replies (most recent on top)
@ew CTO resigned in October - took the hit and lost teams trust for Balivinder hire Time will tell!!
from previously deleted post (it's available here)
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Just because Balvinder opens his mouth doesn't mean the truth comes out. Knowing Greg, I'd be shocked if he ever put his reputation on the line to recommend Balvinder for a job.
From what I've seen, Balvinder has mastered the art of embellishing stories, inflating his accomplishments, and rewriting history to make himself look good. There's a big difference between selling yourself and actually delivering results.
His track record speaks louder than his self-promotion, and I see no reason to believe Sprouts will be any different. You can talk your way into a job, but you can't talk your way into competence.
Hopefully, Sprouts figures out what it's dealing with sooner rather than later. The only thing worse than making a bad hire is realizing it after the damage is done.
People are leaving this place one after another, and please, HR and leadership know very well why. Still, nobody wants to touch the problem.
Now rumor is even the CTO may retire, and according to Balvinder himselt, he could be the replacement within a year.
If that happens, what to say? The house is already filling with smoke, and apparently the succession plan is to hand the matches to the guy standing closest to it.
@et
During our conversation, Balvinder flat-out said his friend Greg C. knew Sprouts CEO Jack S., and Jack basically hired him on the spot. Jack, the CTO, and Balvinder worked out the details afterward.
Well, there ya go. That's apparently how Sprouts ended up with a former car salesman and a lemon.
I’ll give Balvinder this: he sure knows how to keep smarter people at arm's length. They either don't get hired or don't stick around long. Then he says HR doesn't like him. Well, gosh, hard to imagine why.
And that whole "PhD in retail and store operations" routine we'd heard about?
At this rate, don't be shocked if his wife suddenly turns up as the newest DevOps expert on his team. Wouldn't that be something.
Article on GeekWire
Ha... the recent conversation was, to put it mildly, illuminating. Self-awareness did not appear to be among the attendees.
According to him, there is apparently a
"campaign" against him involving HR and people at Sprouts who were here before I joined. At the same time, he was quick to point out that he has brought quite a few people over from Walmart.
So, to recap: there is supposedly an organized effort to undermine him while he is simultaneously assembling his own alumni association. Apparently, both things can be true.
As for the comments attributed to him, his memory suddenly becomes remarkably selective. He doesn't recall interviewing anyone. He doesn't recall talking about having a "PhD in retail/stores," being recruited by a CEO named Jack, or saying anything regarding what he wanted. That is an impressive number of oddly specific statements to have collectively vanished from memory.
Convenient, if nothing else. He also mentioned that he has made a million-dollar investment in Phoenix and fully expects to be here. And, according to him, it people don't like it, they are free to find other opportunities. Nothing says "winning hearts and minds" quite like reminding everyone of your personal investment and suggesting the exit door to anyone who may disagree with you.
He also said the other roles have been put on hold because HR needs to focus on his team which, one might think, would inspire at least a passing moment of reflection.
Instead, his takeaway is that he can simply do the role himself and doesn't need any guardrails or help from outsiders. Because apparently, when HR has to focus on your team, the obvious conclusion is that what the organization really needs is more of you.
So, in summary: HR is focused on his team, there is supposedly a campaign against him, the additional roles are on hold, several remarkably specific conversations have escaped his memory, and anyone who doesn't appreciate the situation can apparently explore other opportunities. Yet somehow, his response to all of this is even greater confidence in his own ability to handle everything himself.
You almost have to admire the consistency.
The roles may be on hold. The self-confidence certainly isn't.
Self-awareness, however, appears to remain indefinitely backordered.
From Archive
It’s obvious leadership is in denial. First, the candidates “had no chance” because they supposedly lacked experience or know-how—even though some of us actually interviewed them and thought they were excellent. Then the criticism from his coworkers was dismissed as jealousy because he wouldn’t hire them. Then it became, “Jack gets what Jack wants.” And now? “We’re stuck with him until he leaves in January.”
@en archive
At this point, why stop there? Add - PhD ins store & retail, personally recruited by the CEO, with honors in CV inflation and minor is self-awareness.
I do wonder what he will say to wriggle his way around this one. Apparently, the chap who recruited him his retiring. Do keep an eye on the inevitable pivot towards Nick name-dropping. Quite the plot twist, this.
@en archive
We were back East not too long ago, and bless his heart, he was the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons. Folks are startin’ to wonder what in the world is really goin’ on.
@em more from archive
I actually tracked him up on LinkedIn just to see what all the noise was about. This fellow seriously…
Nine months at Kellogg is now apparently being presented like a degree, EB1A recipient is being treated as an executive credentials, and Retail Technology Executive is repeated in case the first five labels didn’t land.
FYI. EB1A is an immigrant title towards getting a green card - not a professional title or executive classification.
Some posts are still on the net…
So much churn here, it is looking like mixer grinder on full speed. And perfect timing also with in-person work is starting soon, and now we have a new SVP with full “I have a PhD in retail/store” energy. Apparently he is telling us Jack himself recruited him. Very God. Very VIP. Please bow and clap.
But one small clarification: this Sprouts, not Walmart. Budget is not unlimited, people are not lining up to suffer, and nobody is waiting for some retail professor to come and save the day.
People already do not want to work with him. Existing employees are looking. New hires are ghosting after talking to him.
He is in for a rude awakening. Organic. Locally sourced, and very expensive
Questions remain about the accuracy of his LinkedIn profile. His attitude, which many may see as arrogant and dismissive, has only added to concerns about the working environment.
Let's be clear: removing a post doesn't erase legitimate questions, and no employee should feel pressured to accept leadership without accountability. The post is still available elsewhere.
As we say, respect is earned, not demanded.
And teachings remind us: Truth is high, but higher still is truthful living.
A title doesn't make someone a leader.
Character, humility, and actions do. And deleting criticism is no substitute for answering it.
@a3 there was no racism just the truth… and nothing but the truth.
A months-old post about Balvinder (Newly minted SVP of Engineering) has quietly disappeared from the site.
Interesting timing, to say the least. Did someone complain, or did the criticism of hiring practices at Sprouts Farmers Market strike a nerve?
Most likely broke the site's rules. Naming names, racism, politics, stuff like that is not allowed.