“Hard work never brings fatigue. It brings satisfaction. Success comes to those who dare to dream and act fearlessly.”
Dedication
This book is lovingly dedicated to my parents, Mr. Sadashiv Damodar Mulgaonkar and Mrs. Nalini Sadashiv Mulgaonkar, whose integrity, sacrifice, and quiet strength shaped every part of who I am. Your unwavering values have been my guiding light, and your constant support has given me the courage to strive for excellence with humility. I owe my foundation and my deepest sense of purpose to both of you.
To my dear wife Anjali, whose unwavering companionship and wise guidance have been a steady force through every season of my life, thank you for believing in me, for standing by my side, and for your patient love through all challenges and changes. You have been my partner in every true sense, and my gratitude knows no bounds.
To my sons, Sharang and Saurabh, who have been my friends as much as my children, thank you for your endless support, encouragement, and pride in my journey. Your confidence in me has brought me joy and strength, and watching you grow into thoughtful, accomplished individuals has been one of my greatest blessings.
To my siblings, extended family, friends, seniors, mentors, and every member of the teams I have worked with, your encouragement, faith, and kindness have helped me grow far beyond what I could achieve alone. I cannot forget the invaluable contributions from my colleagues, peers, and those who worked beside me across my long career.
This dedication would be incomplete without mentioning all the dignitaries, industry leaders, and well-wishers who have honored me and my team with their visits, recognition, and inspiring interactions especially the Hon. Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Chief Minister, International Ambassadors, officials, business leaders, Engineering and Defence partners, and every guest who made the effort to acknowledge our work. Your presence and appreciation have added meaning and pride to this journey.
Infinite thanks to my Guru and Divine Friend Prem Avataar Maitreya Dadashreeji, for being with me wherever I am, and creating the path ahead, guiding and leading me at all times, making my life blissful and easy. It is all his doing really, not mine. The Almighty divine does, and I get the credit.
Finally, to everyone who has ever crossed my path, whether in work, friendship, learning, or service, each meeting has taught me something valuable. Your trust, warmth, and respect have helped shape my purpose and have been instrumental in every of my achievements.
To anyone who reads these pages, I humbly hope that may you be inspired to honor your roots, walk your own path with kindness, integrity and love for all, and believe in your power to create a legacy of meaning and service.
Dr. Sanjiv Sadashiv Mulgaonkar
Phase 1 : The Family Bonds
“Design a life that you are inspired to live”
Dr. Sanjiv Mulgaonkar was born into a family that valued hard work and strong family bonds. His mother Nalini worked for the government but later left her job to take care of the family. This showed him early on the importance of making a sacrifice for the family and being dedicated to the people you love. His father Sadashiv, (now aged 96) a sportsman, handsome & articulate, passionate and a hard-working person, worked as a Class 1 Gazetted Officer in the Central Government’s Telecommunications Department. His father, was an eloquent orator, a good writer, extremely popular with his staff, and had a responsible position for which he had worked up the ladder with discipline and integrity. Watching his father work and listening to his stories gave Dr. Mulgaonkar a clear view of how important public service can be for the community and the nation.
Dr. Mulgaonkar grew up in a friendly neighborhood with an open ground right in front of his house. These grounds were a gathering place where children and adults could meet and play. Many evenings were spent outdoors playing games and meeting friends from nearby houses. The place was full of energy and fun with children running around and neighbors talking and socializing. This environment taught him about friendship, teamwork and the joy of being part of a close community. It helped him learn how to work well with others and respect those around him. During his youth, he and his friends formed a sports association in his locality and he was elected as the Secretary of the Association.
Even as a child Dr. Mulgaonkar had many interests. He loved to read and wanted to become a writer. Over time he began writing poems and articles which he still continues to do today. Writing helped him express his thoughts and feelings and gave him joy outside his professional life. Besides writing he was also very interested in sports and games which kept him active and helped him learn about competition and fair play.
When it was time for formal education, Dr. Mulgaonkar showed great dedication. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute which is part of Mumbai University. This is a premier engineering and well-respected institution, known for strong engineering education. Here he learned not only about engineering but also leadership, teamwork and the value of hard work. College life was challenging but it prepared him well for the difficulties he would face later in his career.
At the institute he grew into a young man who was thoughtful, polite and respectful to everyone. Even under pressure he never lost his calm or treated others badly. These qualities earned him friends and respect among his classmates and teachers. He was not only good with studies but also took part in sports and helped organize events. These activities helped him build confidence and communication skills that were important for his future.
Phase 2 : A Dedicated Professional
“ As you start to walk on the way, the way appears”
After finishing his studies in Mechanical Engineering from Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute Dr. Mulgaonkar started his career at Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in 1983 as a Graduate Engineer Trainee. From the very beginning he showed great promise and worked hard to learn all aspects of engineering and management within the company.
Dr. Mulgaonkar spent nearly 42 years at L&T where he worked in Heavy Engineering and Defence verticals. Over these decades he took on many different roles and responsibilities. He gained experience in Production planning, Sourcing, Vendor development, Design, Project Management and many other areas. His work covered the Manufacturing of Complex and High-technology products used in industries like Refineries, Petrochemicals, Fertilizers, Power plants and Defence.
He strongly believes that “Success does not come to you, you go and get it”
One special part of his career was his long association with Defence projects for the Indian Armed forces. For more than 13 years he led the development and manufacture of Defence equipment. This was a challenging area because it required perfect quality, meticulous precision and the ability to manage big projects on time. Dr. Sanjiv Mulgaonkar’s leadership helped build a strong team that delivered excellent results helping his company earn national and international recognition.
In his journey, Dr. Mulgaonkar also got international exposure. He represented L&T in more than 20 countries including North America, Europe and Asia. One notable assignment was when he worked in China for two years at Puyang near Beijing as a Project Manager and Site In-charge for execution of a major Coal Gasification project with Shell Technology.
This project was very important and complex, and he and his team worked in challenging sub-zero temperatures during the long winters. Dr. Mulgaonkar hosted many local Chinese leaders including the Governor of Henan Province and the Mayor of Puyang City at the site of their work, during this period. He was interviewed and featured in a Chinese newspaper and he and his entire team were featured on a television show there.
Back in India, he was entrusted to lead a big initiative for Organizational Excellence and Change Management in Heavy Engineering and Defence for around four years with a mandate to create a better work culture in the organization, bring in efficiency through collaborative teamwork, enhance Total Quality Management, and make the Organisation a great place to work. This particular stint was extremely successful with the team conducting more than 20 Large Scale Interactive Seminars across India, with large audiences and won a lot of accolades throughout the organization.
Phase 3 : Honors and Awards
“If your action, inspires others to dream more, learn more do more and become more, you are a leader”
Throughout his long career Dr. Mulgaonkar received many awards and honors that recognize his hard work and achievements in Engineering and Defence. These awards show how much his professional skills and leadership were valued by the industry, government and his own peers.
One of the notable awards that Dr. Mulgaonkar received was the Golden Jubilee Award given to his team by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Surat in the year 2021. This award was a recognition of the outstanding contribution to business and manufacturing in the region. It acknowledged his dedication to quality, innovation and execution which helped his organization grow and succeed.
In the same year Dr. Mulgaonkar’s team was honored with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers Award. This award was presented by the Honourable Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh. It was a prestigious recognition from the Defence community for his significant role in advancing India’s Defence manufacturing capabilities. This award highlighted the trust and respect he earned for leading critical Defence projects successfully.
Dr. Mulgaonkar also received a National level award for Manufacturing Competitiveness. This national runners-up award was given by the International Research Institute for Manufacturing in 2021. The ceremony was highlighted on CNBC TV18 which brought wider public acknowledgement of his success. This award recognized the high efficiency and quality standards Dr. Mulgaonkar maintained in production.
For Excellence in Quality Systems at his workplace, he was honored with the Highest Platinum Award from Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry (FICCI). This award was presented by Mr. Jitin Prasada, the Minister of State for Commerce Industry and Electronics and Information Technology. Achieving this high level of quality recognition demonstrated Dr. Sanjiv Mulgaonkar’s commitment to maintaining immaculate quality control and continuous improvement in manufacturing processes.
Dr. Mulgaonkar was also recognized for his efforts in safety and risk management. The National Safety Award was presented to him by the National Safety Council of India in March 2023. This award showed how seriously he took the safety of his workers and ensured standards were met in a demanding industrial environment.
On a more personal level Dr. Mulgaonkar was felicitated by the Chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation Dr. Samir Kamat. This took place during a Seminar at DRDO Headquarters in November 2023. This honor recognized his valuable contributions towards Defence and Collaboration with DRDO on various projects.
Perhaps one of the most special moments of recognition came from the international arena. Dr. Mulgaonkar was felicitated by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India HE Lee Seong-ho. This ceremony happened on 3rd April 2025 at the South Korean Embassy in India. The Ambassador awarded him a certificate for “outstanding dedication and invaluable contribution” to strengthening Defence ties between the Republic of Korea and India. This award highlighted the importance of Dr. Sanjiv Mulgaonkar’s role in promoting international cooperation and trust in the Defence sector.
Phase 4 : Strong Teamwork and Clear Leadership
“ A leader is like a Shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind”
Dr. Mulgaonkar’s career was full of many challenges and great achievements. He faced tough situations in projects that required careful planning strong teamwork and clear leadership. These experiences tested his skills and helped him grow as a professional and a leader.
One of the main challenges he faced was managing timelines in many complicated projects. In mega Engineering and Defence projects, delays could mean big problems for the company and the country. Dr. Mulgaonkar learned to handle this pressure by involving his team deeply in the planning process. He encouraged everyone to share their ideas and work together to meet the targets. This teamwork helped solve many problems that came up during project execution.
Building strong teams was another challenge. Often he started with new teams that needed to be trained and motivated. Dr. Mulgaonkar believed in inspiring people by setting an example. He showed dedication and hard work and encouraged his team to follow the same. He spent time understanding the strengths of each person and helped them grow in their roles. Through this effort he created teams that were lean but very effective.
Changing the culture of an organisation was also a big task. He took part in a major initiative for Organizational Excellence and Change Management for about four years. This meant helping different departments work better together and creating a positive environment to bring out the best in everyone. Changing culture was not easy because it involves changing habits and mindsets. Dr. Mulgaonkar used consistent communication and led by example to make sure the new culture was accepted and practiced.
Creating the Armoured Systems Complex from scratch was one of his proudest achievements. This project was important for the nation as it involved developing advanced Defence equipment. Dr. Mulgaonkar and his team worked hard to make this Production Center lean and strong. They focused on quality and timely execution so that the equipment could be delivered without delay. The successful completion of this project showed India’s capability to produce high-tech Defence systems on its own.
His work brought his company into the international spotlight. Many dignitaries visited the production center to see the great work being done. This was a proud moment because it showed that Indian industry could meet world-class standards. The visits included important leaders like the Hon. Prime Minister, Defence Ministers and other cabinet members. Their appreciation motivated the entire team to keep doing good work.
Through all these achievements Dr. Mulgaonkar faced tough situations but always kept his values. He treated everyone with respect and dignity even if they were difficult or unfriendly. His polite and patient nature helped him build trust and solve conflicts without hard feelings. This helped maintain harmony and cooperation in the workplace.
Phase 5 : Commitment to Keep Learning
“ The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t Settle”
Dr. Mulgaonkar is a person who believes that life is about always learning and growing. Even after a long and successful career, he continues to focus on learning new things and improving himself. He is currently doing an MBA from a prestigious university in the United States. This shows his commitment to keep updating his knowledge and skills even after retirement. Along with this, he is also pursuing a course to become an Independent Director. This will help him provide more guidance and leadership in businesses and organizations.
One of his main future goals is to spend more time working for social causes. Now that he is financially independent and has achieved his career goals, he wants to give back to society. He believes that helping others and working for the benefit of the community is a very important part of life. He wants to use his experience and knowledge to make a positive difference in the lives of people around him.
Dr. Mulgaonkar’s personality is marked by kindness, respect, and humility. He strongly believes in treating everyone with dignity and politeness. Despite the pressures and challenges he faced during his career, he always remained calm and polite. He thinks that focusing on one’s own life and efforts is better than comparing oneself with others. This belief helps him stay grounded and focused on his own growth.
He is also a very humble leader who inspires others by example. Instead of just giving orders, he likes to get involved personally and work alongside his team. This way he motivates people to do their best and creates a strong sense of teamwork. His respectful and encouraging approach has earned him the trust and admiration of many colleagues and friends.
Beyond his professional life, Dr. Mulgaonkar has diverse interests and hobbies. He loves writing and has a talent for poetry. Writing poems and articles gives him a way to express himself and share his thoughts on topics like management, spirituality, and culture. These writings show his creative side and his deep thinking about life and society.
Music is another passion of his. He enjoys listening to music and even sings on some special occasions. Music gives him joy and relaxation. He also likes to stay active by following sports and has been involved in sports activities himself. He completed three half marathons, showing his love for fitness and endurance. Earlier he played football for his company and was secretary of a local sports association in Mumbai. These activities helped him build teamwork skills and stay healthy.
Dr. Mulgaonkar is also deeply involved in spirituality and social service. He volunteers for a non-religious socio-spiritual organization called Maitribodh Parivaar. This organization works internationally to spread messages of love, selfless service, and transformation. His work with them shows his commitment to helping others without expecting anything in return. He believes in working for one world, one family, and one truth.