From Cape Town to London and back, Michelle Isaacs’s 25-year journey with BP is a story of steady growth, intentional choices and unwavering support. Now CFO for BP Southern Africa (bpSA), she credits her servant leadership style and her husband’s selfless sacrifice, for helping her rise while staying true to her values.
As a Cape Town-born and bred girl, Michelle Isaacs’s journey began in high school. Reflecting on her early years, she notes her childhood passion for creative thinking and interior decorating – interests she still pursues in her spare time. But it was her knack for numbers and investigative instincts that gently guided her into the accounting stream.
In the early 2000s, she qualified as a chartered accountant, completing her degree through the University of Cape Town and her articles at Moores Rowland. Just a week after finishing, she joined bp – marking the beginning of a 25-year journey with the organisation.
“I love decorating and I still do it as a hobby. But in the end, I chose the finance route at bp. I haven’t looked back since,” she says.
For her, her journey up the corporate ladder has been rooted in one company.
Michelle described her career at bp in three phases: her first seven years in South Africa, the next seven in the UK, and her final phase – another seven years – back in South Africa.
A global organisation
“The organisation I joined in 2000 was quite different from today’s bpSA. That has made it an interesting journey. bpSA keeps evolving and it gives me opportunities. I was very blessed to work abroad.”
Her career began in bp’s audit department, where she worked as an auditor for 12 months before being promoted to audit relationship manager. Eighteen months later, she transitioned into the core business, working in management information and reporting, and subsequently as a performance manager.
As part of a career advancement programme, Michelle broadened her knowledge and network across the multinational business.
“I think that’s what appealed to me – why I took the offer to join bp – because it’s a global organisation,” she says.
This led to her move to London to initially spend three years there, which then turned into seven years.
Moving to the UK
In 2006, Michelle moved to London with her husband, 20-month-old son and mother. “I won’t say it was easy. I was in my 30s, fairly young, moving to a new country with a baby. But I had so much support.” She emphasises that the presence and support of her family helped her settle in and slowly climb her way up the corporate ladder.
She began in the corporate head office planning & performance team as an analyst, overseeing a diverse portfolio in the customer & products segment. She later joined the external reporting team, working closely with investor relations and the executive team.
“I was the link between bp and anything that went out externally on finance materials. Attention to detail was critical. Every word in our reporting mattered – ‘good’ versus ‘strong’ , for example – it all made a difference. I learnt a lot about the executive environment,” she recalls.
Over three years, she held three distinct positions. “It was excellent. I simply cherished that setting,” she says, recalling how her manager supported her decision to prioritise family when she considered having a second child. That support allowed her to take 12 months of maternity leave after her daughter was born.
Upon her return, she was appointed HR finance manager, working closely with the VP of HR during a time of organisational change, providing HR data analytics and insights was a key skills requirement.
Prioritising family
By 2012, with their daughter aged two, Michelle and her husband decided to return to South Africa for stronger family support, bringing the children closer to their grandparents. “It was the most emotional decision of my entire career. As much as I loved the UK, the colleagues and friendships I made, I love South Africa more.”
She joined the global business service centre in Cape Town, taking on various leadership roles from 2014 to 2021, eventually heading the centre. In 2022, she moved into a senior planning and performance role across South Africa and nine European countries, a role which she executed virtually, working from South Africa.
“And now I’m here as CFO,” she says, smiling.
Looking back, Michelle attributes her success to support and hard work. Her various roles, though different, taught her how to communicate across cultures and adapt to diverse work environments.
“You need to flex your style. Every country is different, so you must learn what works in each culture.”
Servanthood leadership
Michelle defines her leadership style as servanthood leadership. “I lead in the way I was raised. Servanthood leadership is about informing others, holding them accountable, and balancing leading from the front and from the back. It means supporting others.”
She believes being authentic and setting clear boundaries is key – especially for women in leadership.
“When my kids were younger, I balanced my time between work and family. I always said: when I’m at work, I’m at work. When I’m home, I’m present. I told my leaders that, and they respected it.”
She encourages young female leaders to do the same – to lead by example and create a positive workplace culture.
“In my career, I’ve said no to some things,” she reflects. Being intentional helped her stay aligned with her personal and professional goals.
Timing is everything
Returning to South Africa allowed Michelle to build a strong family support system. When her son completed high school and her daughter moved to boarding school, the timing aligned perfectly for her to step into the CFO role.
“It was the right time. If you take on a big role during a chaotic time in your life, it can be overwhelming. For me, this was the perfect moment.”
She also credits her husband as the cornerstone of her success.
“My husband left his job as a teacher so I could chase my ambitions. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing without him, he was and is tremendously supportive. Every decision was made together,” she adds.
“Your partner plays such a pivotal role, most notably in your role selections – every decision you make affects them, too.”
