4 Women Engineers at bp Share Career Growth

bp celebrated International Women in Engineering Day on June 23 by sharing the stories of four leaders at the company.

• bp is No. 7 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.

In the United States, 9% of electrical engineers and 32% of environmental engineers were women in 2022, according to the Society of Women Engineers. And from 2010 to 2021, the percentage of women in the U.S. working in STEM occupations with a doctoral degree climbed from 31% to 36%.

International Women in Engineering Day was originally set up by the Women’s Engineering Society as a national campaign to raise the profile of female engineers and encourage more young women and girls to take up engineering careers, with events and activities organized across the world.

This year, the theme is #EnhancedByEngineering. It profiles those who have enhanced people’s everyday lives and are helping to build towards a brighter future.

Check out stories from four women at Chicago-based bp.

Ila Glennia, vice president of subsea at bp, found interest in engineering after a visit to Newcastle University’s engineering department while she was in school.

“Up until that point, I didn’t intend to go to university, and I also didn’t really understand the difference between mechanical, chemical or electrical engineering,” Glennie said. “That exposure really turned on a light and led me to study mechanical engineering.”

Glennie currently operates and maintains bp's subsea production systems, and her team works on projects like the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim ultra-deepwater gas development in Mauritania and Senegal.

Over the course of her nearly 30-year career, she has held a range of roles and worked in countries around the world, including Angola, Egypt, France and the U.S. She first joined bp in 1996 in the North Sea region, where she was often the only woman posted offshore, according to bp.

“I think it’s really important that we see female role models or diverse role models in the organization,” Glennie said. “One aspect of my role as a manager is to identify and create an inclusive and supportive environment. Making sure that everyone feels welcome, included and able to do their best work.”

Glennie’s advice to young female engineers is, “The biggest barriers you face may be the ones you put up yourself. There really are no limits to what women in engineering can achieve.”

When Yvette Baxter-Drayton first started as a young engineer, she would wear safety clothing designed for men on visits to bp sites. At the time, women’s sizes weren’t easy to come by, and they would have to make do with sleeves that were too long or gloves that didn’t fit right, according to bp.

A lot has changed since then, and now, she’s vice president of process and progress safety engineering at bp.

“Last month, I was in Houston visiting my team and saw and an all-female company selling safety clothing made especially for women,” said Baxter-Drayton. “It’s not about looks—you need safety clothing to fit properly. That’s just one example of how having more women in the industry has changed the way we work. If women feel that they are welcome and included, they are more likely to stay and progress in their career. That’s happening now on a far greater level than it was when I first started.”

Baxter-Drayton, who was born and raised in Jamaica, joined Amoco (which later became bp) 27 years ago, after getting a PhD in chemical engineering. She now leads a central team of process and process safety engineering subject matter experts that helps the business solve challenges across bp’s portfolio.

Baxter-Drayton said she’d recommend a career in the energy industry to anyone just starting out, given the impact the work can have on people’s everyday lives.

“We're providing a service to our customers—and watching our progress with new forms of energy and toward the transition is exciting,” she said.

When Anchala Klein started her engineering career in 1990, the focus of wells engineers was to help extract oil and gas from under the ground.

While that’s still the main focus of the role, vice president of wells at bp, her team also takes part in projects to lower carbon.

“It’s been really interesting for us to see how we can apply our skills to new areas, while continuing to develop and innovate in our core oil and gas business,” Klein said. “It’s a great example of how versatile engineering is.”

At the beginning of her career, Klein was often one of the only woman engineers on projects, especially when she went offshore.

“I think the diversity of the organization has changed meteorically since I first started, and not only in regard to women, but there is still more that we need to do to attract and retain the best talent,” said Klein, who started working in wells in 2000.

“Don't be afraid to put yourself out there,” Klein said. “Opportunities when they come up are to be seized with both hands. Always be inquisitive and don’t shy away from asking questions. Everyone is here to help.”

LaToya Stallworth, area production manager, has spent much of her career working on offshore platforms. She’s now responsible for safety and production for two of bp’s largest platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a role she has worked toward since she first joined bp as an intern in 2003.

“There is a real focus on encouraging women to take leadership positions in operations, and we have received valuable mentorship and support,” said Stallworth. “That support network makes me feel like I can bring my best self to work. When I first started, a senior leader told me I should emulate men. I quickly learned that to build relationships rooted in trust, I needed to be myself. I wear a dress and heels to work every day because that’s what I’m most comfortable in, and I’m a firm believer that you should be able to bring your whole self to work.”

Stallworth first joined bp’s production and operations business after getting a degree in chemical engineering. After working offshore early in her career, she knew she wanted to eventually be an offshore installation manager (OIM).

To pursue her goal, she took an education leave of absence to get an MBA and, after graduating, went on to work for bp in Angola and the Gulf of Mexico. She landed her dream role as OIM in 2018 and last year, was promoted to her current position as area production manager.

“I’m constantly sharing my experiences to help future women leaders in operations and engineering,” she said. “I hope that other women and minorities are doing the same for the next generation.”