It will be interesting to see who gets a longer sentence. The CEO or COO? What would it say about our society if it is the latter?
That said, it’s my understanding (and apparently the jury’s, too), that Balwani oversaw the day-to-day operation of the labs. It’s plausible that Holmes was insulated from some of the worst screwups and lies. In any case, while both of them were convicted of defrauding investors, Balwani was also convicted of defrauding patients, where Holmes was found not guilty on similar charges).
Given that the CEO and COO were both found guilty of some crimes, and the COO was also found guilty of additional crimes, I wouldn’t be completely shocked if the COO got a heavier sentence. If that says anything about our society, it’s that it’s bad to commit more than one crime at a time.
Edit: these aren't my claims. They're from various news stories published today. See my comment at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32017919 for more info.
Most big companies I’ve worked in the entire C-suite has their own fiefdoms.
The CEO has direct reports in their C-levels, but the C-levels “own” their own orgs that the CEO isn’t as close to.
The relationship between a CEO and a COO is much closer to a equal relationship than a boss and subordinate.
Maybe something, maybe nothing. There are many differences between the two defendants and their court proceedings. CEO vs. COO is just one of them.
Yes, one of them is a blonde woman. The other a brown man. To quote the great philosopher Patrice O'neal: How long do you think the coast guard will look for you if you went missing? https://youtu.be/kYKJ2z7mecQ?t=77
She's also a recent mother.
She played her cards perfectly.
From what the trial has uncovered, it does seem like he had a powerful hold on her, when she was young and impressionable. Does that absolve her of guilt? Absolutely not. But its hard to see how any of this would be possible without Balwani.
Whilst bodily autonomy is of course a thing, one has to wonder at the mindset - she was already at trial, and knew she was facing a 20 year sentence, doesn't seem like the right time to try for a family.
Given her other behavior, more than one person has thought that it wasn't the most coincidental that she got pregnant with a due date within two months of the trial calendar date for sentencing. (Though I will say, even there, that'd be pretty good planning -and- luck to time it that well).