Redefining Client Partnerships: Mukul Garg on Growth-Driven Relationships
Axelerant’s Program Manager, Mukul Garg, explores growth partnerships, adaptive leadership, and leveraging AI to redefine team collaboration and client success globally.
Mukul Garg, Program Manager at Axelerant
Mukul Garg is a seasoned Program Manager at Axelerant, known for his client-centered approach to project management and his commitment to fostering a culture of growth and collaboration within his teams. With extensive experience in customer relationship management and complex web applications, Mukul is driven by the philosophy of being a "growth partner" rather than merely an executor of tasks. His approach emphasizes understanding the underlying business needs of clients and creating high-impact solutions that build trusted, long-term relationships.
In his recent session at Drupal Camp Pune, Mukul shared insights on aligning with client goals by thinking of projects as one’s own product, focusing on quality, growth, uptime, and security. This strategy, he believes, strengthens the team’s relationship with the product in a way that resembles a nurturing "mother-child" bond, rather than a transactional, contract-driven model.
At Axelerant, Mukul is also deeply invested in enhancing skills and fostering a collaborative environment. He leverages structured programs, career coaching, and peer learning to drive innovation and personal growth. Through internal work rotations and skill development opportunities, Mukul’s teams are encouraged to explore new areas and continuously evolve, with support for certifications, training, and participation in industry events like Drupal Camp Pune.
Working with global clients, Mukul ensures that his teams are prepared to meet diverse regional needs by implementing a thorough discovery phase that accounts for cultural, regulatory, and market-specific nuances. His adaptable approach includes leveraging cutting-edge tools and methodologies, such as AI technologies like ChatGPT, Copilot; Automation tools, like Zapier, make.com, Miro, etc to improve project outcomes and maintain high standards of quality and innovation.
Introduction:
In this insightful interview, Mukul Garg, Program Manager at Axelerant, shares his philosophy of becoming a 'growth partner' to clients by fostering long-term relationships built on quality, security, and business impact. Mukul discusses strategies for aligning project goals with client expectations, the importance of understanding the 'why' behind client requests, and nurturing continuous learning within his teams. He also highlights how Axelerant integrates tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, make.com and Zapier to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and maintain exceptional quality across global projects.
Q: You recently attended the Drupal Camp Pune. How was the experience? Who did you meet? What new things did you learn? What is the Drupal environment looking like?
Mukul: It was an awesome experience. I gave a session on being a "growth partner" to the client, rather than just dividing everyone into separate roles and executing tasks. The key is to think of the work as your own product - focusing on quality, uptime, security, and helping the client's business thrive. This builds a long-term, trusted relationship like a "mother-child" bond between the team and product, rather than a rigid business contract.
Q: How do you balance aligning these project goals with client expectations, especially when working on complex web applications? Can you share some strategies that have worked well for your team?
Mukul: The priority is to understand the "why" behind the client's requests, not just the "what". This helps us identifying root business goals and analyzing strategic priorities. Don't assume their requests solve the real underlying need - dig deeper to understand the business context. Suggest simpler solutions that address the core issue, even if it's not the elaborate change the client initially asked for. Be adaptable on scope and timeline, prioritizing quality and business impact over rigid adherence to the original plan. Use an MVP (minimum viable product) approach when running again time to deliver quickly and then iterate.
Q: Enhancing team skills is a core focus for you. How do you foster this continuous learning and collaboration within your teams to drive innovation in your projects?
Mukul: At Axelerant, there is a strong focus on individual growth and a supportive company culture. There are performance and career coaches to identify interests and skill gaps. There are opportunities for internal program or project rotations and skill development, driven by employee preferences. Peer learning is encouraged, with employees sharing knowledge and helping each other improve. The company invests in training, certifications, and conference participation for the team. There is transparency and openness to accommodate different growth paces and preferences.
Q: Axelerant handles global projects. How do you ensure that your teams are consistently meeting these diverse needs of clients across different regions while maintaining quality standards?
Mukul: We have a thorough discovery phase to understand regional and cultural nuances. The team includes business analysts, technical architects, marketing team, etc. who research the local market, regulations, and user needs. They identify potential issues like language, cultural sensitivities, and timing that could impact the solution. This research informs the design and implementation to ensure the solution meets the specific regional requirements. The team remains adaptable, and willing to try new tools and technologies to best serve the client's needs.
In the end, at Axelerant, the goal is not just delivering projects but building partnerships that empower clients to scale sustainably and teams to thrive collaboratively.
Q: As a leader in an innovative approach, how do you also integrate new technologies or methodologies in your project management processes to improve efficiency and outcomes?
Mukul: The focus is on remaining adaptive and open to change.. The team experiments with tools like ChatGPT for drafting initial communication templates or brainstorming technical solutions, and Make.com for automating repetitive operational tasks, Miro for brainstorming sessions, etc. There is a process to continuously evaluate the tools and provide feedback for improvements. The team is willing to adopt the client's preferred tools and methodologies if they better serve the project needs. The emphasis is on finding the right solutions, not rigidly sticking to a particular technology or approach.
