Lessons from Walmart

This week marks my last working week at Walmart. In the last six years, I have had the pleasure of working with really smart and talented people, inspiring leaders, and honest and caring managers. Working on products like 2 day shipping, supply chain optimization, site redesign, merging apps, and search has been extremely satisfying and rewarding. Even though I am moving on to a different world with new excitement and challenges, I will cherish all the people and relationships I have developed. Before I leave, I would love to share the lessons I learnt at Walmart and how much I have enjoyed my time here.

Drive and Ambition

Even though Walmart is one of the world's largest and oldest corporations, it has the ambition, drive and spirit of a young person. Competing in a market where the rules of shopping are changing and where competition is growing rapidly is not easy. But Walmart has been ready for the challenge. Whether it's buying startups and businesses to complement its offerings or building new technology and capabilities, the last six years have shown how the behemoth can compete and maintain a strong standing and market share. From purchasing Jet and restructuring online expansion plans overnight, to becoming a major investor in the India ecommerce industry, Walmart continues to show ambition and drive.

Speed and Agility

It's 2015 and Amazon has launched and expanded its same-day shipping service in many major markets in the US. Instacart, Target and smaller players are rushing to compete. Walmart has still not caught up. It's mid 2016, Walmart buys Jet and within six months, launches 2-day shipping on wide array of assortment for a large section of the US population. In the next few years, Walmart builds an online grocery business from scratch that offers same-day pickup and delivery from thousands of stores and becomes a market leader in this segment. Selection of products on Walmart.com expands from a few million to tens of millions just in a span of a few years. There has never been a dull moment in the last six years and the company continues to make foray into new areas whether it is drone delivery, investments in automation, or selling ecommerce technology to other retailers. It arrived late but it has made up through speed and agility.

Caring for people

Whether you are an associate working in the store or a marketing professional or a technology executive, I have been amazed by the scale and variety of opportunities that the company offers from college programs and advanced training sessions to ability to start and run new businesses. During my tenure, I have had the pleasure of working with teams and managers who have always rewarded performance, accountability, honesty and courage. Like every corporation, the company has its own challenges but I am fortunate and proud to have spent so much time at a place that cares. Software and technology are eating the world and the world has lost so many to COVID in the last eighteen months. People matter more than ever before and it is out duty to care for people before products and profits. Walmart continues to embody that spirit.

I'd like to thank everyone I have had the pleasure of working along and with during my time. Off to new adventures!