[This is a sponsored article with the Singapore Government Partnerships Office.]

“Help others whenever you can, even if you feel you have little to give.”

For much of his life, Mohamed Satria Bin Sadon, 41, had always reflected on this lesson from his father, but never felt he was in a position to act on it while still building his own career. 

That changed when his father passed away, just before Satria started his job at Google.  

After some time into his career, Satria had the opportunity to speak with several secondary school and ITE students, where he asked them about their future aspirations. Their answers were grounded in what they knew: gig workers, delivery riders—familiar paths that provided steady income.

Then he mentioned he worked at Google. The room erupted with questions. “How do people get a job in such a big international company right here in Singapore?”

At that moment, Satria saw the disconnect clearly. His experience in tech has shown him that while countless people use technology daily, few understand the vast opportunities within the tech industry. These students had potential—they just needed to see the pathways.

To widen those pathways, Satria knew he would need others in the industry to step forward as well. With his career stable and his father’s lesson now guiding him, Satria reached out to friends and colleagues in the tech industry. 

The response was encouraging, with many eager to give back. And thus, in Mar 2022, the Intelligence Specialist officially founded Malay-Muslims in Tech (MMiT) with a group of tech friends and practitioners.

Bridging the knowledge gap

Tech industry volunteers at the introductory MMiT meeting./ Image Credit: MMiT

“There is a common misconception that you need to be a ‘techie’ to work at a tech company,” shared Satria. 

“The reality is that tech requires professionals from every specialisation—marketing, legal, HR, and crisis management. We want to show people what goes on behind the screen of the apps and platforms they use daily.”

As such, MMiT was created to bridge this knowledge gap, exposing people of all ages to real possibilities within the tech industry and helping them envision potential futures for themselves, regardless of background.

This became even more important as the tech landscape grew increasingly uncertain. 

With news of layoffs in recent years, workers face greater challenges in holding onto existing roles or breaking into the industry. Yet even amid the uncertainty, new opportunities continue to emerge for those equipped with the right knowledge and skills.

MMIT’s kick-off meeting with the then-CEO of Yayasan MENDAKI for an event at Google Singapore./ Image Credit: MMiT

The early days of the initiative looked promising, but layoffs tested MMiT’s momentum. This led the MMiT team to realise that they needed to amplify their community impact, and one key way was to work with like-minded organisations. 

Yayasan MENDAKI, a pioneer self-help group set up in 1982 to uplift the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore, became a foundational partner. Its support helped MMiT launch some of its first initiatives, including a series of talks, hackathons, and panel sessions.

Yayasan MENDAKI’s Professional Network In Tech hosted a talk by AI engineer and entrepreneur Dr Waleed Kadous./ Image Credit: MMiT

As MMiT’s community grew, so did its network of collaborators. Yayasan MENDAKI launched its own Professional Networks (PN) initiative, including a network focused on the tech sector. Satria was involved with the tech network for around two years before returning his full focus to MMiT.

“As word of the community spread organically, more people and organisations became eager to connect and collaborate with us,” Satria said. This growing network of partnerships made it easier for MMiT to expand its event offerings while continuing to serve the community effectively.

Participants at Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka completing a hands-on AI session under the Digital Minaret initiative./ Image Credit: MMiT

Beyond MMiT, Satria also worked on a technology-focused initiative during his time at Yayasan MENDAKI called Digital Minaret. Piloted at Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka in May, the initiative aimed to uplift less privileged residents of Jalan Kukoh by equipping them with practical digital skills.

The programme brought participants together at the mosque for hands-on sessions covering AI basics and social media marketing, equipping them with practical skills they could put to use for themselves.

Empowering the community to grow itself

MMiT at a Mendaki event hosted by Google Singapore./ Image Credit: MMiT

Today, MMiT’s core team of eight to 10 volunteers from various tech companies meets almost weekly to plan and run projects. 

They have impacted nearly 5,000 participants across a wide demographic, from youth entering the workforce to working adults seeking career advancement. Their efforts even earned a mention in the 2023 National Day Rally speech.

MMiT’s approach encourages every team member to lead their own initiatives and cultivate partnerships, creating organic expansion into diverse functions beyond tech. 

Many participants have discovered new networks, forged new partnerships, and even found business opportunities, either directly or indirectly through MMiT. These successes constantly motivate Satria and his team to continue their work.

MMiT members like Termidzi Azmi of AgentSAMUR.AI giving back through tech./ Image Credit: MMiT 

Along the way, several personal stories have reinforced that motivation. “There are two that really stuck with me that show the range of people we’re reaching,” said Satria. 

The first was about two individuals who met at an MMiT event and later came together to start an AI company, one of them having just been laid off. “To know our community could help them start a new chapter is just incredible,” he shared.

Another memorable instance came from a parent whose child, after trying VR glasses at an MMiT event, suddenly became interested in coding. “Hearing that we’re sparking that kind of curiosity in kids, while also helping professionals launch new ventures, is what makes all this worthwhile.”

It takes just one person to make a difference

The upcoming MMiT community platform./ Image Credit: MMiT

On the ground, MMiT runs regular cybersecurity sessions and hackathons, and is developing an AI-powered reading app to help children practise phonics and improve their pronunciation.

Its next major initiative is a community platform for people working in tech, which Satria describes as “LinkedIn with a community focus”. Launching as both an app and website, it will bring together community feeds, a member directory, job board, mentorship opportunities, resource libraries, and innovation labs all under one platform.

The platform is expected to launch in the upcoming months, starting with tertiary students before expanding to young and mid-level professionals.

It will be open to people from all backgrounds, and the team also hopes to work with agencies and other organisations on these initiatives, while continuing to expand its reach through new partnerships.

“There’s a common saying that one person cannot make a difference, but I fundamentally disagree,” Satria said. 

If you see a problem you believe you can help solve, I urge you to try. What begins as a single, focused effort can create a ripple effect, and with the right support, that ripple can grow into a powerful multiplier effect, creating change you never thought possible.

You can explore MMiT and its initiatives here, and see how the community is already making a difference.

And if you feel inspired to do something for your community, visit the Singapore Government Partnerships Office to find out how you can get started. 

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Featured Image Credit: MMiT