Some leaders adapt to change; others shape it. Jigar Mehta, Managing Director of Onward Technologies, belongs to the latter. He has steadily steered the company toward becoming a trusted global outsourcing partner for digital and engineering research and development (ER&D) services. His approach is not driven by sudden changes, but by consistent and purposeful decisions. With a clear eye on target markets, he builds capable teams and leads with a deep understanding of people.
Recognizing Opportunity at the Right Time
Jigar Mehta’s defining moment came in 2016, when he was appointed Managing Director and joined the board as a second-generation leader. One of his first and most significant decisions was to realign the company’s focus and resources toward global scale, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. At a time of increasing market competition, this strategic shift positioned the company closer to innovation driven economies and enabled the development of strong, enduring relationships with global clients.
This approach was critical to the company’s long-term development. While it involved short term challenges, the intent was to create sustained value for all stakeholders i.e. employees, customers, and investors. “It was about being in the right place at the right time and aligning the company with evolving global demand. The journey of building a global company was made possible through the strong support and confidence of my father and the board of directors,” adds Jigar
Building a Culture Around People
Having led a global team of 2500 employees across the U.S., UK, Germany, and India people always come first for Jigar. He is a firm believer that the success of any organization comes from positioning people in roles that best align with their capabilities. He champions the belief in strengthening employees holistically spanning career development, enhanced earning opportunities, and overall wellbeing “When you hire the right experienced people for the right roles, success becomes inevitable.” he says.
With this strong foundation, he has fostered a culture of accountability and ownership. Individuals are given an opportunity to be proactive, yet at the same time grow professionally.
Creating Focus Through Strategic Alignment
As the company grew, Jigar increasingly realized that structure and clarity became more important than ever. The first crucial step in achieving that goal was to group the company’s services within ER&D and Digital Services. Organizing their operations in specialized 3 verticals such as Industrial Equipment and Heavy Machinery (IEHM), Transportation and Mobility (T&M), and Healthcare and Life Sciences (HCLS) helped the firm deliver smarter business and technology outcomes to its clients.
However, it still remained committed to enhancing its core capabilities in mechanical, embedded, and digital engineering. This unique blend of competencies made the organization capable of providing comprehensive solutions to meet the needs of its clients.
Balancing Innovation with Discipline
While innovation may be viewed as a highly creative endeavor, Jigar applies a thoughtful, structured approach to driving meaningful change. According to him, innovation should be backed by robust processes that produce consistent outcomes. “Innovation should have an intent and direction,” he says.
During his tenure as Managing Director, the company has doubled its efforts in digital engineering, software development, and artificial intelligence to stay ahead. These innovations are made possible by processes that make work more efficient and uphold the highest governance standards.
Navigating Challenges with Resilience
Like many leaders, Jigar faced a major test during the COVID-19 pandemic, as sudden disruptions impacted projects, clients, and global operations. Despite these challenges, the organization adapted quickly transitioning to remote work and restructuring its processes.
“The resilience and positivity shown by the team during that time was truly inspiring,” Jigar shares. This period reinforced the importance of adaptability and teamwork, while also strengthening the company’s ability to respond to uncertainty.
Preparing a Technology-Driven Future in a Global Environment
For the future, Jigar wants to explore technologies which involve engineering and data analytics together. There is significant opportunity for him in technologies related to Industry 4.0 like engineering platforms, embedded systems, and intelligent automation.
“Data-enabled innovation will drive how companies derive value,” he says. His investment into these technologies will help the organization prepare to work with its clients to design better and smarter solutions.
Another aspect of Jigar’s vision for the future is building globally distributed teams that work seamlessly across geographies. By integrating onsite, nearshore, and offshore teams into a unified delivery model, the organization aims to enhance efficiency while consistently delivering high-quality outcomes.
Under Jigar’s leadership, there is also a strong focus on continuous upskilling, ensuring employees stay relevant in an evolving technology landscape. This approach will help build a workforce that is both highly skilled and adaptable.
Driving Growth with Purpose
One of Jigar’s most significant breakthroughs came during his tenure at the Harvard Business School executive program (2023-2025) in Boston. This experience provided him with some fresh insight into management and strategy formulation. It enabled him to drive about some much-needed restructuring within the organization along with leadership alignment towards specific markets.
With all of this, clarity and stability have become the cornerstone of the business, translating into consistent, measurable growth. For Jigar, true success is about building a resilient foundation for the future. This vision is reflected in standout performance, with 4-year CAGR at 15.3% in revenue and 35.3% in EBITDA, a ~150% surge in EBITDA over the past three quarters, and strong cash reserves growing to ₹127.3 crores ($15 million approx.)
A Journey Defined by Vision and Consistency
Jigar Mehta’s career stands as a strong example of what sustained leadership can achieve over time. By prioritizing people, maintaining discipline through innovation, and making the right decisions at the right time, he successfully steered the organization toward long-term success.
As industries undergo continued transformation, his experience highlights that true advancement is not merely about quick action but about steady work, clear focus, and unwavering determination.
