One of the youngest vice-chancellors in the country, Dr. Mayank Saxena has published 110 research papers, has been granted three copyrights, has served as editor of prestigious management journals, and also authored three books. Under his visionary leadership, SAGE University Bhopal is redefining higher education through technology integration and cultural rootedness.

Dr. Mayank Saxena serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the SAGE University, Bhopal. In this leadership role, he oversees the transformation of students and the development of institutional systems and processes.

Dr. Saxena shares that his core responsibility lies in ensuring that every student who enters the university with aspirations and dreams finds a path to fulfilling them. According to him, a university is not merely an educational space—it is a transformative environment that nurtures young minds into professionals who are prepared to serve society. He strongly believes that the primary role of SAGE University is to develop individuals who are aligned with the values of Bharatiya society and contribute to making it one of the greatest societies in the world.

Dr. Saxena describes SAGE University Bhopal as a place that brings together creativity, innovation, research, and personality development for students. The institution, he says, is dedicated to producing cutting-edge knowledge and cultivating student personalities that are perfectly suited for industry recruitment. He emphasizes that both the students and the faculty members at SAGE are encouraged to nurture their thinking abilities and leadership in thoughts and ideas. The university is envisioned as an intellectually vibrant ecosystem where individuality, innovation, and unique ideas flourish.

The university offers advanced academic programs in diverse disciplines. Dr. Saxena highlights its strong focus on engineering—especially on Computer Science, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. He affirms that any dream a student might have in the field of Computer Science can find expression and support at SAGE. In addition to technology, the university is a top-tier destination for Management Education and Legal Studies, providing students with access to the most contemporary developments in these fields.

He further mentions that Agriculture is a key focus area at SAGE University. Recognizing agriculture as a critical domain for India’s future, the university views its engagement in Agricultural Education as a social responsibility—particularly in the context of Central India. The institution also offers programs in Pharmacy, Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communication, Science, Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, ensuring that students across diverse interests and disciplines have the opportunity to pursue their dreams here.

SAGE University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mayank Saxena has supervised around 15 PhD scholars and published more than 110 research papers in journals and conferences of international repute. He has served as the editor of three prestigious management journals and authored three books. His academic contributions also include several patents and copyrights, with three copyrights officially granted to him. In addition to his academic work, he has provided training to corporate professionals and consultancy to businesses. Many of his students have gone on to establish their own enterprises, and he remains committed to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in young minds.

Throughout his career, Dr. Saxena has designed numerous academic programs, especially in the domain of management education, aligned with emerging industry trends and practical relevance. His work has not gone unnoticed. He was among the Youngest Directors of a standalone business school and today ranks as one of the Youngest Vice-Chancellors in the country. He is also a multi-disciplinary scholar, with qualifications across Management, Engineering, and Economics, and deep study in Bhartiya Gyan Parampara and Indian history—fields that he continues to write about with passion and clarity.

Dr. Mayank Saxena says his personal inspiration to be a part of the education sector stems from the very nature of the profession. He enjoys reading, exploring, and bringing out new ideas—and most importantly, making them meaningful for society. He describes Education as a field where intellect not only creates knowledge but also contributes directly to social impact and national development. For those who aspire to create change—socially or professionally—he believes Education is one of the most rewarding careers.

Tracing his academic background, he shares that he completed his Undergraduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shri G.S. Institute of Technology and Science, Indore, in 1994. He later earned an MBA from the School of Economics, DAVV, Indore, followed by an Advanced Management Qualification from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore. He has also undertaken certification programs at Harvard University.

Reflecting on his childhood, Dr. Mayank Saxena shares that his earliest passion was cricket. He was an excellent player, and even today, he considers it a true source of joy and inner instinct. If not for his academic path, he says with certainty, he would have pursued cricket professionally. From leading his team in numerous matches and tournaments to spending countless hours on the field, those experiences remain etched in his memory as some of the most fulfilling moments of his life.

Beyond sports, his childhood was filled with curiosity, exploration, and a deep appreciation for history. Growing up in western Madhya Pradesh—particularly in places like Dhar, Mandav, Bagh, and the Bagh Caves—he was surrounded by some of the most ancient and culturally significant sites in the Indian subcontinent. These locales, steeped in heritage and known for their deep civilizational roots, sparked in him a fascination for the past. He often found himself wandering through these historical landscapes, trying to understand how people once lived, thought, and created. These experiences cultivated his sense of wonder and reflection, traits that would later shape his academic and leadership journey.

For Dr. Saxena, the most powerful motivator has always been self-instinct—a voice within that drives him forward. He believes that the true push towards achievement does not always come from external validation or comparison, but from a deep, personal calling that aligns with one’s interests and sense of purpose. This inner instinct, he says, is what continues to guide him both in life and in leadership.

Dr. Mayank Saxena shares that he has never followed anyone as a role model in the conventional sense. His path, he believes, has been guided purely by self-awareness and internal conviction. Instead of drawing inspiration from individuals, he has always followed his own instinct, choosing to define and pursue what felt meaningful to him.

However, as a student of history, he does deeply admire transformative figures like Chandragupta Maurya, whom he sees as a visionary leader who reshaped the destiny of Bharat. Another historical personality he reveres is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, for his unmatched courage, rise from obscurity, and profound impact across the subcontinent. To him, such leaders are not just historical icons but wonders who once walked the earth.

The spiritual grounding for his worldview, Dr. Saxena says, comes from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, especially the principle of "कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।"

He believes that one’s duty is to keep working towards their envisioned goals with full sincerity, without attachment to the results. Whatever the outcome—success, delay, or transformation—will be decided by the divine, and it will always be for the highest good. His conviction lies in striving for excellence in one's efforts and leaving the results to time and providence.

He considers himself destined for the role of an institution builder, with a mission to create transformative ecosystems for students to evolve. So far, he has successfully developed four institutes, impacting thousands of lives by giving shape to systems that enable students to achieve their aspirations. This, he reflects, stands as one of his most meaningful contributions to society.

Writing on topics close to his heart brings him immense joy. He advocates a life led by personal ideals, inner faith, and the courage to believe in oneself. His advice to students and professionals alike is to define clear, realistic goals, set timelines, and take decisive steps to reach them. Success, he says, is not tied to one’s stream of study—whether engineering, performing arts, or management—but to the authenticity of one’s desires and the passion behind the pursuit.

If someone dreams of becoming a filmmaker, artist, or innovator, Dr. Saxena urges them to embrace that path with conviction. True success lies at the top—where pride, admiration, and recognition await those who persist. This belief forms the foundation of the philosophy at SAGE University Bhopal, where he currently serves as Vice-Chancellor.

The university, under his leadership, is committed to transforming passion into profession. SAGE University does not follow a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Instead, it emphasizes understanding each student as a unique individual—valuing their personal capacities, belief systems, and ambitions. Through psychometric tests and tailored academic plans, the university helps students chart paths that align with their inner potential, be it entrepreneurship, performance, or professional excellence.

Dr. Saxena envisions the years between 2025 and 2030 as pivotal for Indian higher education. The future of learning, he believes, will be determined by three factors: infrastructure, educators, and technology. These pillars, when optimized, will decide the academic and career outcomes of the next generation.

SAGE University Bhopal is designed to excel on all three fronts. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, globally exposed faculty members, and deep integration of technology-driven learning systems, the university offers students the tools they need to thrive. The pedagogy includes MOOCs, ERP systems, AI-powered learning platforms, software-driven modules, mobile-based apps, and more. These are not adjuncts but core to the university’s academic architecture.

Dr. Saxena affirms that SAGE University is not just a place of instruction—it is a hub of innovation and forward-thinking education. The institution’s commitment to nurturing individuals who can drive societal transformation is unwavering.

He concludes by thanking those who have engaged with his vision and work at SAGE University Bhopal, expressing hope that those listening will also create ripples of change in the world.