BALENDU SEHJPAL
Rochester
Summary
Strategic District Manager with extensive retail pharmacy leadership and full P&L accountability for a multi-million-dollar portfolio. Successfully transformed underperforming districts into top performers, achieving double-digit EBITDA growth through operational efficiencies and talent development. Recognized for outstanding employee retention and customer engagement.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
District Manager, Pharmacy & Retail Operations
Walgreens
Rochester / Syracuse
09.2018 - Current
- Directed operations for 15 retail pharmacies in Syracuse west with full P&L accountability, overseeing store and pharmacy managers and executing district staffing strategy.
- Direct leadership oversight of 300+ employees including Store Managers, Pharmacy Managers, Pharmacists, and Technicians.
- Successfully led three different districts since 2018, restoring profitability in each through expense discipline and leadership restructuring.
- Improved district EBITDA by double digits through shrink reduction, labor optimization, cost control, and front-end sales growth.
- District 167 (Syracuse) achieved +12% EBITDA year-over-year, ranking #1 in Area 34 (11 districts).
- District 791 recognized as Best District in Area 34 (FY20 & FY21) for highest employee retention and digital adoption performance.
- Managed integration of four acquired Rite Aid stores, ensuring seamless transition and operational continuity.
- Exceeded patient retention projections by 40%+ across all four acquired locations.
- Outperformed all Walgreens Improve Scorecard metrics for FY21, FY22, FY23, and FY24 — top performing district in Area 34.
- Recruited and onboarded 14 pharmacists, 6 graduate interns, and 4 store managers to enhance succession planning and strengthen team capabilities.
- Redeployed labor strategically during peak COVID immunization demand to improve workflow and patient access.
Lead Store Manager / Acting District Leadership Support
Walgreens
Syracuse
04.2018 - 08.2018
- Led the district as interim manager during the District Manager's leave of absence.
- Oversaw financial performance and operational execution across multi-store district portfolio, ensuring alignment with company standards.
- Maintained revenue stability and ensured operational continuity during leadership transition, supporting team morale and customer service.
- Aligned operations of 15-store portfolio, integrating 70–80% Rite Aid-converted locations into Walgreens standards.
- Upskilled acquired store managers on Walgreens systems, operational standards, and performance expectations.
Store Manager
Walgreens
Atlanta, GA | Rochester, NY | Finger Lakes, NY
01.2001 - 08.2018
- Held full P&L responsibility with consistent delivery of top-tier sales, profit, and operational performance.
- Led high-volume retail pharmacy locations generating $8M–$12M annually, managing teams of 10–18 employees.
- Opened new store locations, leading operational resets and system transitions to enhance efficiency and profitability.
- Drove 10% year-over-year front-end sales growth across Area 34.
- Led Area 34 front-end sales initiative (2017–2018) supporting 180 stores by collaborating with District Managers and store leaders.
- Recognized as a key change leader during Rite Aid acquisition integration (2016–2018).
- Trained and onboarded acquired Rite Aid Store Managers, District Managers, and operations teams to align with Walgreens systems and performance standards.
- Honored as Store Manager of the Year (2017) for exceptional sales leadership and area-wide impact.
Community Leader
Walgreens
Syracuse
04.2009 - 08.2016
- Appointed as a Community Leader in a company initiative that recognized high-performing Store Managers for expanded leadership responsibility.
- Led fundraising efforts and developed community partnerships with organizations such as American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society, and AIDS Community Services (now Evergreen Health), strengthening community engagement.
- Developed and promoted initiatives to strengthen corporate social responsibility and community involvement.
- Liaised with corporate leadership and supervised six stores, enhancing performance for approximately 120 employees.
- Mentored and coached Store Managers, Pharmacists, and leadership teams to strengthen operational execution, talent development, and accountability.
- Drove performance improvements across sales, profit, and operational metrics within assigned store group, contributing to overall organizational success.
- Post corporate-wide elimination of the Community Leader role (2016), took on the responsibility of managing multiple stores, opening new locations, and leading onboarding and training for managers from Rite Aid acquisition sites.
Assistant Store Manager
Walgreens
Nashville, TN | Atlanta, GA
05.1998 - 01.2001
- Drove On-Shelf Availability (OSA) and inventory accuracy to maximize sales and customer satisfaction.
- Executed daily store operations, enhancing efficiency across front-end and pharmacy departments.
- Collaborated with pharmacy team to streamline workflow and uphold service excellence and operational compliance.
- Recruited, trained, and onboarded new team members; provided ongoing coaching and performance feedback.
- Developed and managed weekly labor schedules aligned to payroll budgets and business needs.
- Collaborated with Asset Protection Manager (APM) to identify shrink risks and implement loss prevention strategies.
- Ensured compliance with receiving, claims processing, and inventory control procedures to maintain accurate on-hand counts.
- Delivered in-the-moment coaching to close performance gaps and elevate customer service execution.
- Led customer experience initiatives, fostering consistent and positive shopping experiences.
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -
Kanpur University
India04-1994
Bachelor of Arts - Commerce
Punjab University
India04-1989
Skills
- P&L management
- Budget forecasting
- Operational efficiency
- Strategic planning
- Performance metrics
- Customer relationship management
- Team leadership
Awards
- Development Champion, Area 34, 2018, Honored for outstanding talent development, succession planning, and leadership pipeline strengthening across the area.
- Best District – Inspiring Team Award, 2020, Awarded for fostering a high-performance culture, driving employee engagement, and delivering strong operational results.
- Leadership of District 171, 2021, Chosen to lead District 171—Area 34’s most challenging district—based on demonstrated leadership, disciplined execution, and consistent delivery of turnaround results.
- Exceptional Employee Engagement, 2021, Recognized for exceptional employee engagement, leadership impact, and district performance excellence.
Core Leadership Competencies
- Financial & Operational Leadership
- Multi-unit P&L leadership
- EBITDA growth & profitability management
- Expense control & payroll management
- Financial performance oversight
- Capital expenditure planning
- Market analysis & strategic deployment
- Footprint optimization & multi-store conversion
- Talent & Workforce Strategy
- Workforce planning & labor deployment
- Talent acquisition & recruitment
- Succession planning & bench development
- High-performance team building
- Leadership development & mentorship
- Compensation decisions & performance management
- Pharmacist scheduling & immunizer training
- Retail & Pharmacy Operations
- Retail and pharmacy operations leadership
- COVID testing site rollout & execution
- PTCB certification support & technician development
- Operational standards integration
- Merchandising & On-Shelf Availability (OSA)
- Logistics & workflow optimization
- Regulatory & compliance oversight
- Organizational Change & Integration
- Organizational transformation & cultural integration
- Rite Aid acquisition integration & store conversion
- Change management & cross-functional collaboration
- Redeployment strategy & operational restructuring
- Leadership & Business Acumen
- Strategic planning & execution
- Analytical problem-solving
- Financial acumen
- Communication & partnership building
- Employee engagement
- Customer experience management
- Adaptability & progressive leadership
Languages
English
Full Professional
Hindi
Professional
Certification
PTCB Certification
Timeline
District Manager, Pharmacy & Retail Operations
Walgreens
09.2018 - Current
Lead Store Manager / Acting District Leadership Support
Walgreens
04.2018 - 08.2018
Community Leader
Walgreens
04.2009 - 08.2016
Store Manager
Walgreens
01.2001 - 08.2018
Assistant Store Manager
Walgreens
05.1998 - 01.2001
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -
Kanpur University
Bachelor of Arts - Commerce
Punjab University