Vikas
In today’s fast-moving business environment, where scale is often prioritised over stability, Mr. Pankaj Mishra’s entrepreneurial journey stands out for its depth, discipline, and deliberate intent. As the Founder of the P N D Group, which includes P N D Global Logistics, P N D Maritime Pvt. Ltd., and the FMCG brand Bakeats, he has built businesses that focus on ownership, operational control, and long-term credibility. At 38, Pankaj Mishra represents a generation of entrepreneurs who believe that institutions are not built overnight, but through consistent decision-making and clarity of purpose.
Pankaj Mishra’s journey did not begin in boardrooms or factories; it began with introspection and learning. An introverted student in his early years, he developed a strong inclination toward structure and discipline. He pursued Mechanical Engineering and went on to achieve a Gold Medal in Industrial Engineering and Management, an accomplishment that reflects both academic excellence and a mindset tuned toward efficiency and systems. These formative years shaped his analytical approach, which later became central to how he viewed business challenges.
His professional career took shape across respected corporate organisations such as Wipro, Lava International, and Delhivery. These roles exposed him to large-scale logistics operations, supply chain management, and team leadership. More importantly, they allowed him to witness the inefficiencies embedded within traditional logistics systems. Delays caused by third-party dependencies, lack of accountability, and fragmented execution became recurring themes. These observations stayed with him, quietly laying the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial venture.
Parallel to his corporate career, Pankaj also spent a significant phase of his life teaching engineering students while preparing for the Services Selection Board examinations. This period reinforced his sense of discipline, responsibility, and patience. Teaching helped him understand the importance of clarity and structure in achieving outcomes, whether in education or in enterprise. Yet, despite multiple professional avenues, the desire to build something of his own continued to grow stronger. He believed that true fulfillment lay in creating opportunities rather than merely participating in systems built by others.
At the age of 32, driven by this conviction, Pankaj Mishra made the decision to step into entrepreneurship. Along with his co-founder, Mr. Amit Chaudhary, he identified a critical gap in the logistics industry. Businesses were excessively reliant on intermediaries, which resulted in higher costs, slower execution, and limited control. This realisation led to the inception of P N D Global Logistics on 2nd August 2019, with an initial capital investment of ₹50 lakhs. The vision was clear—to provide end-to-end logistics solutions that offered clients transparency, speed, and accountability under one roof.
The early days of P N D Global Logistics were marked by challenges that tested both patience and resolve. Regulatory complexities, financial constraints, and the need to establish credibility in a competitive market created constant pressure. As a first-generation entrepreneur without a business legacy, Pankaj faced skepticism from industry peers and acquaintances who questioned the decision to leave a stable career. However, instead of being deterred, he focused on execution. His belief was simple: consistency builds trust, and trust builds business.
A pivotal strategic move was the decision to directly register with major shipping lines, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries. This approach allowed P N D Global Logistics to gain greater control over freight operations, pricing structures, and service reliability. Clients began to experience smoother customs clearances, faster turnaround times, and more predictable outcomes. Over time, these operational strengths translated into credibility, enabling the company to transition from a startup navigating survival to a profitable logistics partner. Today, P N D Global Logistics operates profitably with a turnover of ₹35 crore, serving businesses across sectors and geographies.
The company’s comprehensive service offering reflects its end-to-end philosophy. P N D Global Logistics manages freight forwarding, shipping, and customs clearance with expertise across air and ocean transport. Its capabilities include handling full container loads, less-than-container loads, over-dimension cargo, and perishable goods. With round-the-clock customs clearance support and deep familiarity with import-export documentation, bond transfers, and duty refunds, the organisation ensures that clients experience minimal disruption in global trade operations.
As the business matured, Pankaj Mishra recognised another opportunity to strengthen operational control—container ownership. This insight led to the launch of P N D Maritime Pvt. Ltd., enabling the group to operate company-owned cargo containers. This strategic expansion reduced dependency on external container availability and allowed the group to offer greater stability and predictability to its clients. With P N D Maritime, the P N D Group moved closer to its long-term vision of managing the logistics value chain with minimal external dependency.
While logistics remains the foundation of the group, Pankaj’s entrepreneurial outlook has always been expansive. The launch of Bakeats marked the P N D Group’s entry into FMCG manufacturing, driven by a belief that quality food products should be accessible to all. Bakeats was conceived with the intention of offering export-level bakery products to both domestic and international markets. The brand operates through a fully in-house manufacturing facility in Noida with a high production capacity, ensuring consistency, hygiene, and freshness.
Bakeats distinguishes itself through its ingredient philosophy and process discipline. With a strict no-palm-oil approach and the use of premium raw materials, the brand challenges the prevailing assumption that mass-market products must compromise on quality. Despite being only five months old, Bakeats has already established a presence through distribution and exports. By delivering premium snacking experiences at accessible price points, the brand supports the Made in India vision and showcases Indian manufacturing capabilities to global markets such as the UAE and New Zealand.
Beyond business growth, the P N D Group’s impact is reflected in the lives it supports. With over 100 employees across logistics operations and manufacturing units, the organisation contributes to the livelihoods and aspirations of numerous families. Pankaj Mishra views employment generation as a core responsibility of entrepreneurship. His leadership style reflects a modern, millennial mindset—approachable, solution-oriented, and focused on empowerment rather than authority.
Leadership, in Pankaj’s view, is about creating clarity and enabling people to perform at their best. He believes that listening is as important as decision-making, and that problems must be solved collectively rather than assigned blame. This philosophy has fostered a culture of trust and accountability within the organisation, allowing teams to grow alongside the business. Many individuals within the group have evolved professionally as the organisation has scaled, reinforcing his belief that people are the true drivers of sustainable success.
The entrepreneurial journey has also been shaped by personal responsibilities and challenges. Balancing family commitments with the demands of building a business required discipline and resilience. These experiences strengthened Pankaj’s focus and reinforced the importance of staying grounded. He believes that time, when respected and used wisely, becomes the most powerful force in achieving long-term success.
Inspired by leaders such as Ratan Tata, whose values, humility, and long-term thinking resonate deeply with him, Pankaj Mishra remains committed to building brands that earn trust over time. His learnings from entrepreneurship emphasise adaptability, patience, and the courage to take calculated risks. He firmly believes that quality and integrity are non-negotiable pillars of sustainable growth.
Looking ahead, the future of the P N D Group is guided by controlled expansion and strategic clarity. Plans include scaling the container fleet under P N D Maritime, strengthening global trade routes, and growing Bakeats into a nationally recognised FMCG brand with a strong export footprint. Each step forward is evaluated through the lens of long-term value creation rather than short-term gains.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Pankaj Mishra’s message is grounded in experience. There is no fixed formula for success. One must learn continuously, trust one’s instincts, remain consistent, and stay humble. Entrepreneurship is not about immediate rewards, but about building something meaningful that endures.
Through the P N D Group, Pankaj Mishra continues to demonstrate that when businesses are built with control, clarity, and courage, they evolve into institutions capable of creating lasting impact across industries and communities.
Website : https://www.bakeats.in/
Website : https://www.pdgl.in/
Website : https://www.pndmaritime.com/
