After a successful career in engineering, Swati Saxena went looking for work that would let her extroverted personality and love of people take center stage. She landed in real estate in 2011 and never looked back. What surprised her was how much her engineering background followed her into the new field, sharpening the analytical thinking and process discipline she brings to every transaction today.
A managing broker at Baird & Warner, Saxena has spent 15 years building her practice in Oak Park — where she also lives — in addition to River Forest, Forest Park and Berwyn. She works with buyers and sellers across single-family homes, condos, multifamily properties and townhomes, from first-time buyers and downsizers to luxury clients and homeowners ready to make a move.
The Oak Park and River Forest market presents its own particular demands: older housing stock, a competitive environment and clients who need an agent who genuinely knows the neighborhood. Saxena does. On the buyer side, she conducts a detailed meeting before any search begins, helping clients identify what they truly want and walk into the process with clear expectations. Sellers get the same preparation; she works with them on positioning, pricing and presentation well before a listing goes live. Most of her clients come through referrals from past clients, and she counts that as a reflection of the relationships she works to build.
Now in her 15th year, Saxena has also been focused on refining her workflows to make space for more personal time, finding that balance feeds, rather than limits, her professional energy.
Saxena is a committed vegan and happily shares plant-based living tips with anyone curious about the lifestyle. She runs, walks and strength trains regularly; belongs to several book clubs, including a business-focused group; and has recently taken up dancing. Travel rounds out a life she describes as full and intentional.
