Talking tech with the women of bp
Filipa Moura, principal software engineer, shares her journey across industries to bp’s commodity trading sector.
When Filipa Moura joined bp, she brought a diverse skill with her. Before joining the company, she built a distinguished career in technology, working as a software engineer and security architect for some of the world’s leading finance and technology organizations.
In these roles, she tackled complex challenges in secure system design and software development, gaining valuable experience across various industries: She built a single sign on solution to simplify doctors’ life in hospitals, developed systems to detect and prevent abuse in social media, deployed tools to manage clients’ investments and built ads reporting dashboards.
Now, as a dynamic force in bp’s commodity trading sector, Filipa shares her journey, highlighting her early aspirations and the gender-based challenges she overcame in the workplace to achieve her current position.
Tell us more about your role at bp
In my role at bp I’m responsible for software engineering and focus on commodity trading. This involves the exchange of commodities such as oil and gas. After a trade is completed, we ship the commodities across the world and handle the logistics of the product supply.
What was your dream job growing up?
Growing up, my career aspirations were constantly changing — I must have envisioned myself in around 200 different dream jobs!
In my final year of school, my ambitions took me from aspiring to be a doctor to developing an interest in physics, and finally, to a fascination with creating animated movies like Shrek. I remember telling my mom that I wanted to do a course in Norway to learn how to make animated movies and she asked me if I could pay for it, which of course I couldn’t. She then suggested I study computer engineering, and if I enjoyed it, she would support a postgraduate course in animation. I had always enjoyed maths and physics; they came easy to me, and I had spent a lot of time on computers growing up. So, in the end, computer engineering was a natural fit.
What was your first job in tech?
My first job was an internship at a startup software company specializing in healthcare applications. This company developed software that healthcare providers use in various settings, such as emergency rooms and during appointments, to document patient symptoms and request exams. I was part of the Technical Architecture Security team, and my main project was to implement a single sign-on system, allowing doctors to avoid multiple logins during patient consultations.
The team was small, consisting of six members — four women and two men — which is not the usual split, but it was a great experience that helped me learn and understand how to initiate greenfield projects.
“Everyone has a value to add and there’s space for everyone’s voice to be heard.”
Are there any experiences you can reflect on that inspired you to pursue this career?
I did have one experience that really helped me to adopt a mindset of just going for it.
I had recently graduated, and I had just started a new role in a company where the structure was typically corporate and hierarchical. The CEO of the company was hosting an all-hands meeting, and my manager turned to me and insisted that I ask him a question. I said I couldn’t think of one, but he told me to just ask anything I wanted, and that my voice was important. So, I ended up asking him something about having better computers for developers.
It was a very simple moment, but the idea that seniority should not be a barrier to expressing ideas or asking questions was a lesson that stuck with me throughout my career and life.
Embrace opportunities to speak up, regardless of your position or perceived level of authority. Your perspective matters, and your voice can spark positive change. Don’t hesitate to share your insights or raise questions — it’s how progress is made, and inclusivity fostered.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in STEM?
In navigating the complexities of career and life, I’ve distilled two key pieces of advice that have proven invaluable to me:
Firstly, cultivate resilience as a cornerstone trait. When confronted with obstacles, resist the temptation to perceive them solely as impassable barriers. Instead, view them as hurdles to be overcome. Admittedly, this mindset shift is easier said than done. However, I firmly believe that our capacity to navigate challenges stems from harnessing inner strength. By drawing upon our inner reserves, we empower ourselves to confront external challenges head-on.
Secondly, I often liken life to a random shuffle on a playlist. Just as you’d skip a song that doesn’t resonate with you, consider applying the same principle to your professional journey. If you encounter a work environment or situation that compromises your well-being or conflicts with your values, don’t hesitate to pivot. Treat these instances as invaluable learning opportunities and continue to forge ahead. Remember, there are environments where your contributions will be appreciated, and your principles upheld.
Nurture resilience by reframing challenges as opportunities for growth. Cultivate a mindset that embraces setbacks as steppingstones toward success. Additionally, prioritize your well-being and values in your professional pursuits. If a situation doesn’t align with your principles, be proactive in seeking environments where you can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
“The biggest difference is that you see women at the top here in tech, which isn’t always the case elsewhere. This demonstrates the fact that reaching these roles is achievable.”
How does bp demonstrate its commitment to supporting women in the workforce?
One aspect that stands out to me is bp’s extra child leave policy, which grants parents with children under three an extra six weeks off. I personally benefited from this policy last year, seizing the opportunity to spend invaluable time with my child before they started full-time school.
It’s often challenging as a parent, feeling perpetually caught in a struggle to balance responsibilities. However, having the chance to take this leave guilt-free and truly enjoying those moments was incredibly beneficial. While the policy is designed for all parents, I, as a mother, found it particularly valuable.
Finally, what do you most enjoy about working in tech at bp?
The biggest difference is that you see women at the top here in tech, which isn’t always the case elsewhere. This demonstrates that reaching these roles is achievable.
The most exciting part of my work involves planning for future projects and initiatives that were not previously in the works. We strategize for these new developments, aiming to position ourselves for success right from the outset.
The fun thing for me at bp is the opportunity to dive into new domains and understand how things operate differently than my previous experiences. As for being a woman in tech, well, it’s interesting… Sometimes, it’s the thing that really sets you apart.
If you’d like to find out more about open roles in tech at bp, head to our digital technology careers page.
Filipa joined bp from Twitter in February 2023, first as principal software engineer for B2B and is now the principal software engineer lead for Trading, Supply & Distribution. Filipa cares deeply about users, seeing technology as a means to an end to make all our lives better.
Filipa has extensive experience in building empowered, autonomous and continuously improving high performance teams in tech, banking and healthcare, at companies including UBS and Yahoo. In her previous role at Twitter, Filipa worked tirelessly to help prevent and detect online abuse in order to keep the users safe.
Filipa also represented bp at 2023 Women in Tech conferences in Amsterdam and London.
