Amira Moussa is a Azure Solutions Engineer at Microsoft
Where did you graduate from and with which degree?
I graduated from the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen with a Master’s in Computational Physics, focusing on big data, embedded AI, and machine learning. My thesis was about speeding up machine learning with FPGA technology. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Quantum Physics from the same place.
Please give a description of the work you do in your current position.
At Microsoft, I work with some of Denmark’s largest companies to help them modernize their applications, use AI and IoT, and get real value from the cloud. I design system setups, run workshops, and build proof-of-concepts. A big part of my role is making sure technical solutions match business needs. I work with both executives and engineers so the projects move from ideas to results.
What motivated you to study physics or engineering in the first place?
In high school I was often treated as the outsider. When my classmates wrote our “blue book” about where we’d all be in ten years, they joked that I would marry my old boss and become a housewife with seven kids. It hit me because I had seen those stereotypes play out in real life.
I didn’t accept that. I googled “hardest studies in Denmark” and physics showed up at the top. I signed up for an intensive summer course to catch up. I studied day and night, passed, and found out I actually liked it. What started as a way to prove people wrong turned into a real interest in problem solving and pushing myself.
What made you decide to pursue a career in the private sector?
✨ There wasn’t a master plan. I’ve always wanted to be financially independent since I didn’t grow up with many resources. I wanted the freedom to travel, explore, and try things on my own terms. That’s also why I started my own company, to see what I could build from scratch. The private sector gave me both a decent living and the chance to take on big projects. I’d also be open to the public sector if the right role came along.
How do you use the skills you learned as a physicist or engineer in your work?
Physics taught me how to think clearly about problems, use math to test ideas, and break things down into steps. I use that every day, whether I’m building AI systems, setting up cloud solutions, or helping teams solve tricky issues. Physics also taught me not to give up too quickly. Try, fail, learn, try again. That’s been just as useful as the technical side.
What does being a physicist or engineer mean to you?
When I started physics, I wasn’t sure it was for me. I tried different areas and felt stuck until I finally took programming, the subject I had avoided the most. It ended up being the thing I enjoyed most and built my career on. To me, being a physicist or engineer means being curious, flexible, and ready to step into areas you didn’t plan for. It’s less about always having the answer and more about having the mindset to figure it out.
What advice would you give to young people (in particular women and minorities) with a background in physics or engineering who would like to pursue a career in the private sector?
If you feel lost, that is a good thing. That means you’re moving. I once chose physics almost on a dare, and the subject I avoided the most ended up becoming the thing that shaped my career. Nothing about my path has been straight, and that’s the point!! You don’t need to have it all figured out to move forward.
For women and minorities, the world will sometimes try to tell you where you don’t belong. Here’s the secret: that’s exactly where you should go. If you’re the only one in the room who looks like you, that’s not a disadvantage, that’s an opportunity. The more unique you are, the more space you have to define what you want to do and how you want to do it.
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