From Physical Therapy to Executive Leadership in Grocery Retail: Kendra Shaw’s Career Journey at Sprouts Farmers Market

What if the career you thought you’d never pursue turned out to be exactly where you were meant to lead?

In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn sits down with Kendra Shaw, District Director of Operations at Sprouts Farmers Market, to explore the unexpected turns, defining moments, and leadership lessons that shaped her 20+ year career in retail.

Kendra shares her journey from a small town in Indiana to leading over 1,000 employees across a fast-growing region at Sprouts. Along the way, she reflects on nearly two decades with Aldi, hard-earned lessons in corporate versus field leadership, and how she rediscovered her voice by aligning with the right culture.

With clarity and candor, Kendra breaks down what it takes to lead through people, scale a values-driven team, and build a fulfilling career without losing yourself along the way.

What You'll Learn:

• Why being “expendable” is actually a leadership strength
  
  
• The often-overlooked impact of store managers on company performance
  
  
• What it takes to scale from 4 to 52 stores—and keep culture intact
  
  
• How to know when it’s time to move on from a company you love
  
  
• The leadership values that guide hiring and growth at Sprouts
  
  
• Why “doing it for yourself” isn’t selfish—it’s essential
  
  
• Two foundational pieces of advice for anyone advancing their career
  
  
  

This episode offers real-world insight for anyone navigating a career pivot, building a team, or leading through growth in a high-performance environment.

Guest Links:

Connect with Kendra Shaw: [email protected]  or at linkedin.com/in/kendrashaw/
Explore Sprouts  Farmers Market: sprouts.com

Next Steps:
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