From Receptionist to Iron Lady – The Inspiring Story of StarOil’s Gloria Hamenoo

A heartwarming story shared on social media has got many Ghanaians talking about the power of hard work and determination. The story, told by a former Financial Controller at StarOil Ghana, celebrates Gloria Dziedzorm Hamenoo, who joined the company in 2015 as a receptionist but has risen to become a key manager. Her journey shows that where you start does not determine where you can end up, as long as you have the right attitude.

When Gloria joined StarOil, the company had just moved into its new head office and was still settling in. She agreed to hold the fort at the reception desk, but she never sat around waiting for work to come to her. Because of her background as a mathematics teacher and her interest in finance, she regularly asked to help with tasks in the Finance Department. Her eagerness to learn and contribute quickly caught the attention of her superiors.

What stood out most about Gloria was her discipline and her ability to deliver ahead of time. As the company prepared for the government’s petroleum price deregulation in 2015, there was an urgent need to automate business processes. The former Financial Controller described Gloria as the “Iron Lady” needed to drive the project, praising her no-nonsense attitude and determination to get things done. She took ownership of setting up all 85 fuel stations on a new platform, working through countless sleepless nights to ensure everything was ready.

Today, Gloria leads the Stations Optimization Department, which handles station accounting and reconciliation—a critical function that keeps the entire business running smoothly. Her hard work has given management the confidence to run a network of over 450 retail stations. She is also leading the development of a customer-facing mobile app, once again proving that she can be trusted with important projects.

The former Financial Controller affectionately calls her “My Number 5 — The Defender of the Realm,” comparing her to a central defender in football who protects the goal. Gloria’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need a big title to make an impact. Sometimes, all it takes is the right attitude, discipline, and the determination to make every opportunity count. Her journey from receptionist to top manager is proof that with hard work, anyone can rise to the top.