2023 President’s Medal awarded for determination and commitment to empowerment through technology
Sanoop Sadique (IT Computer Systems ’23) first came to SAIT to drop off a delivery as an UberEATS driver. He never imagined that three years later, he’d graduate with his third post-secondary credential and join SAIT’s faculty as an instructor. His passion for exploring new opportunities and making the world a happier place has taken Sadique and his family from India to the United Arab Emirates and then Canada.
“Canada was not in the plan initially,” says Sadique. “I was worried about the weather, but then I decided to take on the adventure of going from plus 50 to minus 40 degrees.”
Sadique grew up in a small village in Kerala, India and has had a curious and inquisitive mind for as long as he can remember.
“It gives me new challenges to solve constantly and keeps me occupied and learning new things,” he says.
Sadique completed an MBA in India in 2010 and shortly after moved to Dubai to pursue a career at Sony Electronics, where he worked on their product marketing and branding team. For the next eight years, Sadique and his partner Anjoom built a life in the UAE, making great friends and starting a family. However, his constant search for new opportunities led him to explore some life-changing decisions.
“Once you’re established in your career [in the UAE], it becomes difficult to change your job profile since your residency is dependent on your job,” he explains. “Another reason was to move someplace where we could call home that offers better living standards for our family.”
With the decision to start a new life in Calgary, the family was excited by what lay ahead, not to mention the news that they were expecting their second child. Arriving in Calgary in late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic would dramatically impact their situation. With two small children at home and Anjoom pursuing further education, Sadique had to work as a food delivery driver on top of his job at London Drugs. He also continued volunteering at the Calgary Public Library as a Tech Mentor. His experiences working at London Drugs and as a Tech Mentor sparked a passion for helping people feel empowered through technology.
“I came across a lot of people struggling with technology,” he recalls. “The trivial things that a lot of people take for granted can be challenges for others … I was able to help people get hold of confusing technology, and it gave me immense pleasure. It felt like I was contributing my part to make this world a happier place.”
That day after dropping his delivery off at SAIT, Sadique spent some time exploring campus and liked what he saw. His passion for helping people with technology and recommendations from friends led him to enroll in the Information Technology program at SAIT — a return to post-secondary education after over a decade.
“It was great and weird,” he shares. “I was doing something that I wanted to do, reskilling, but I never thought I would be able to do that with a toddler and infant at home … but the online learning helped me transition into a learning phase, and the recorded sessions let me catch up on any content I had difficulty with.”
His first exposure to student life on campus was the 2021 Big SAIT Welcome. He was completely taken in by the positive spirit and energy of the event. This experience inspired Sadique to actively involve himself throughout SAIT in a number of ways.
“I made very meaningful connections with my instructors, students, and other staff members. It was a wonderful experience volunteering with SAITSA and to be part of discussions with the Interfaith society.”
Shortly before completing his program, he was offered a position with SAIT’s IT team where he worked for several months. In January 2023, he joined SAIT’s School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) as a part-time instructor while also working in his IT role. In May 2023, he became a full-time faculty member working in SADT and SAIT’s School of Business.
For his commitments to the SAIT community and his passion for empowerment through technology, Sadique was awarded SAIT’s 2023 President’s Medal.
“It means the world to me,” he reflects on this accomplishment. “Everything that happened in my life brought me to this point. Every single step and misstep led me to this.”