Carrying the Torch — How Hitanshu Mehta is Modernizing a Family Legacy

Carrying the Torch: How Hitanshu Mehta is Modernizing a Family Legacy in Manufacturing

When most college students are juggling exams, late-night parties, and career uncertainties, Hitanshu Mehta is already leading a 30-member sales team and overseeing 130+ distributor channels as Director of HEX Worldwide, the global arm of Brass Copper & Alloy India Pvt. Ltd.

At just 21, he’s not only learning business theories in his BBA classroom but applying them daily in the real world — negotiating deals, managing senior employees, and navigating the complexities of India’s manufacturing sector. His story is one of discipline, responsibility, and a quiet determination to carry forward the dreams of his late father.

A Legacy Forged in Brass and Copper

Manufacturing isn’t just a business for Hitanshu — it’s family history. His father, the driving force behind Brass Copper & Alloy India Pvt. Ltd., built the company with a vision of making Indian manufacturing globally competitive. From childhood, Hitanshu was exposed to this world.

His father often took him to the office, letting him absorb the rhythms of factory life and the culture of negotiations. While other kids played outside, Hitanshu was learning how to read a supplier’s tone, observe deals being struck, and understand how trust is built in business.

Those early lessons became the bedrock of his entrepreneurial mindset. But the journey took a sharp turn in 2021, when his father passed away. As the eldest son, Hitanshu felt an overwhelming responsibility to not just sustain the family business, but to fulfill the unachieved dreams his father left behind.

Discipline in the Midst of Grief

Balancing grief with ambition is never easy, especially for someone barely out of his teens. While his peers in college were often focused on parties and social life, Hitanshu found himself living with a different rhythm.

He developed a strict routine: early to bed at 7 PM, up at 4 AM — carving out time to balance his studies with his business responsibilities. While the lifestyle set him apart from his classmates, it gave him clarity and focus.

In those quiet morning hours, Hitanshu wasn’t just catching up on assignments; he was planning strategies, reviewing sales performance, and thinking about how to keep HEX Worldwide on its growth trajectory.

The discipline, he says, wasn’t optional — it was survival. “If I didn’t adapt, I couldn’t carry the weight of both worlds,” he reflects.

Stepping into Leadership

Hitanshu officially joined HEX Worldwide in 2022, initially handling digital marketing. But his ambition quickly pushed him to take on more. In his role as director, he supports the sales vertical, guiding a 30-member team and working closely with over 130 distributor partners.

Their strongest channel remains IndiaMart, which continues to generate significant business opportunities, including international deals. But handling sales is more than just numbers. For Hitanshu, it’s about people.

One of his biggest challenges has been leading employees older than him. At 21, giving direction to someone twice his age requires maturity and humility. Instead of trying to assert authority, Hitanshu focuses on alignment and trust. “A robust sales team is the backbone of HEX Worldwide,” he says, and his goal is to make every member feel they are part of a shared mission.

Building the Future: Automation and Human Connection

Hitanshu is clear-eyed about where manufacturing is headed. He envisions fully automated factories that can drive efficiency and scale in ways traditional setups cannot. For him, automation isn’t a threat to jobs — it’s a way to create smarter, more competitive manufacturing ecosystems.

At the same time, he believes certain aspects of business will always require the human touch. While AI may automate outreach and initial conversations, he insists that deal-closing depends on trust and connection — something no algorithm can replace.

But scaling in India isn’t without its hurdles. Lengthy approval processes, especially with large enterprises remain bottlenecks. Yet for Hitanshu, these challenges are simply puzzles to solve, not roadblocks to fear.

Guidance for Young Entrepreneurs

Hitanshu is uniquely positioned to speak to young entrepreneurs, many of whom are just starting to think about their future. His advice cuts through the noise of hype and offers practical wisdom:

• Don’t start with a factory. “If you’re entering manufacturing, don’t immediately set up a plant in India,” he says. Instead, start with white-labeling from China to reduce risk, learn market dynamics, and establish cash flow.
• Learn globally. He recommends attending China expos to explore opportunities, understand products, and build supplier relationships.
• Build skills. Communication, negotiation, and patience aren’t optional — they’re core traits for success.

This advice may sound unconventional, but it reflects Hitanshu’s pragmatic approach: minimize risks, learn fast, and then scale big.

Beyond Brass and Copper

For all his commitment to HEX Worldwide, Hitanshu is not defined only by manufacturing. He has a personal passion for fragrances and deodorants, and dreams of exploring opportunities in that space someday.

It’s a reminder that entrepreneurs aren’t one-dimensional. Passion projects, even those outside the family business, fuel creativity and personal growth.

A Philosophy for the Next Generation

At the core of Hitanshu’s journey is a philosophy simple yet profound: start early, stay disciplined, and embrace both tradition and technology.

He is proof that entrepreneurship doesn’t always mean waiting until you graduate or until you have decades of experience. Sometimes, it means stepping up when life demands it, learning on the job, and trusting yourself to grow into the role.

For a new generation of entrepreneurs, especially those who feel their industries are “uncool” compared to tech startups, Hitanshu’s story offers inspiration. Manufacturing may not grab headlines, but it is where enduring businesses are built — businesses that outlast trends and create real economic impact.

Closing Note

Hitanshu Mehta’s story is about more than inheriting a business. It’s about transforming responsibility into opportunity, grief into discipline, and tradition into innovation.

At just 21, he is leading teams, building global sales channels, and preparing for a future where manufacturing is both automated and human-centered. His journey is a reminder that leadership isn’t defined by age but by vision, resilience, and the willingness to learn every single day.

And as he continues to balance college lectures with boardroom strategies, one thing is clear: the torch his father lit is in steady hands — and it’s burning brighter than ever.