Mr. Saxena’s career began in the gritty trenches of construction sites, where he honed his skills as a site engineer with B. Metalia Consultants, a pioneering firm until 2010. He rose through the ranks— from site engineer to construction manager, and eventually to project manager—driven by an appetite for challenges and a relentless drive to deliver results.
Reflecting on his early days, Mr. Saxena recalls, “I would willingly take on challenging projects.” This determination culminated in 2005 when he encountered what he calls the defining moment of his career–the Glenmark formulation unit project in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh (India). Tasked with delivering a complex G+3 RCC structure for liquid, oral doses, and ointment production within an improbable five-and-a-half-month timeline, Mr. Saxena defied scepticism from peers and superiors alike. The stakes were high— failure meant a 50% cut in his firm’s fees— but his resolve was unshakable. “I told my boss, ‘If you rely on me, just sit back and relax,’” he recounts, with a steely confidence highlighting his leadership ethos.
The Glenmark project was far from easy. It involved cutting down a 17-meter high hill, building strong foundations, and getting everything ready for full commercial production—while working through the cold winter in Baddi, where temperatures plummeted to one or two degrees Celsius. With no pre-engineered buildings available at the time, Mr. Saxena led a Herculean effort by working 18-hour days alongside his team. “We prepared a timeline, planned a schedule, and worked relentlessly,” he explains. His ability to rally a disparate group—new contractors, consultants, and clients—into a cohesive unit deserves special mention. The project’s timely completion, without any deductions from the agreed fees, not only solidified his reputation but also passed an unexpected test—just hours after finishing, a major earthquake hit Baddi, proving the structure’s strength and resilience. This triumph in 2006 marked a turning point, propelling Mr. Saxena from the site to Mumbai’s corporate corridors and, eventually, to the helm of his own venture.
In 2017, armed with 28 years of industry experience and the steadfast support of his late wife, Ms. Madhvi, Mr. Saxena founded Meraki Projects. The transition from employee to entrepreneur was fraught with challenges as neither he nor his family had a business background. “For business, we didn’t even know the ABCD,” he admits candidly. Yet, his wife, an interior designer with an impressive academic background (BSc, LLB, LLM), became his rock. She managed the financial backbone of the fledgling firm, which allowed Mr. Saxena to focus on technical execution and client satisfaction. This division of responsibilities enabled Meraki Projects to weather initial hurdles and establish a foothold in a crowded market.
UNIQUE LEADERSHIP STYLE
Mr. Saxena is known for his clarity of vision and emphasis on collective effort. He believes success hinges on a leader’s ability to inspire and align a team toward a shared goal. “A successful project is the result of teamwork,” he asserts. This philosophy continues to define Meraki Project’s operations.
The humble leader advises, “Rather than asking for payment, satisfy your client first.” This principle has earned Meraki Projects repeat business and word-of mouth credibility. Unlike its competitors, the company thrives without a website, relying on Mr. Saxena’s face value and the firm’s track record. “Brands develop with the face value of the key person behind them,” he says, citing Reliance’s evolution under Shri Dhirubhai Ambani as inspiration.
Mr. Saxena’s approach to motivation is pragmatic yet profound. It helps him set incremental targets to build momentum. Drawing an analogy from cricket— inspired by his son’s sporting days—he explains, “A batsman never thinks of making 100 runs at once. He thinks of five runs, then 10, then 25.” This step-by-step approach shaped Meraki Project’s early strategy when they aimed for 10 projects in the first six months but ended up surpassing expectations by completing 25. By the end of its first year, the firm had completed 75–80 projects, and over the next six and a half years, that number grew to more than 280 successful projects.
UNFAZED BY CHALLENGES
The COVID-19 pandemic tested Mr. Saxena’s mettle as a leader. It highlighted his deep commitment to his people. While many firms downsized, Meraki Projects retained its full workforce and paid 100% of salaries on time. It also expanded from 28 to 48 employees between March 2020 and 2021. “We were hiring when others were sacking,” he says proudly. “Leveraging government support for MSMEs, such as deferred TDS payments, we maintained our turnover and delivered projects seamlessly during a global crisis,” he added. This resilience reflects Mr. Saxena’s belief in robust financial planning. He believes that if you plan for one month, you should have a backup of three months.
DRIVEN BY GOALS
Mr. Saxena’s vision for Meraki is ambitious yet grounded. His short-term goals include consolidating its presence in India, where it now handles 90% of Hindustan Unilever’s Southeast Asia projects—a remarkable leap from a 2-3% share in 2017. In the long term, he aspires to rank among the world’s top engineering consultancy firms. This global outlook materialised with Meraki’s registration in the USA in June 2023 as Meraki Projects, LLC, a dream seeded by Ms, Madhvi during a 2022 visit to New York. Today, the firm operates in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Indonesia, and New York. Mr. Saxena considers his wife his unshakable support system. “She was the “iron lady” who steered the company through crises until her last breath,” he says.
GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY
Mr. Saxena prioritises a positive social and environmental footprint. During the pandemic, his focus on employee welfare—maintaining salaries and hiring amidst uncertainty—set a benchmark for compassionate leadership. He has also instituted progressive governance practices, such as prioritising employees’ families over their jobs, offering a one-month bonus, and guaranteeing a minimum 10% annual increment. His firm also provides cashless health insurance for employees to ensure their well-being. As Meraki Projects enters its next phase, the ambitious leader sees branding as a catalyst for Meraki’s next phase. With his son, daughters, and son-in-law, all in the same fraternity, poised to elevate the brand, Mr. Saxena’s legacy is well-assured.
