From Secretary to CEO: Hana Gray's Office Management Revolution

In this episode of intheOffice Cast, John Kent intheOffice's founder interviews Hana Gray, the founder and CEO of The Office Management Group. Hana shares her journey from being a branch secretary to establishing a consultancy and training business that supports and empowers office managers globally.

Hana discusses the misconceptions surrounding the office management role, emphasising that it is often undervalued and misunderstood. She explains that office managers handle a wide range of responsibilities, including facilities management, event management, culture, wellbeing, health and safety, reception, and remote working policies. This broad scope makes it challenging to educate others about the role's importance and complexity.

Hana also talks about the growth of her business, which started in July 2016. The Office Management Group offers various services, including a membership platform, events, an exhibition, awards, a podcast, group training courses, and one-to-one B2B consultancy. She highlights the importance of having an office manager in every office, especially as businesses grow and expand.

Throughout the episode, Hana shares anecdotes and insights from her career, including the challenges she faced and the support she received from her network. She emphasises the need for proper training and support for office managers, as well as the importance of recognising their contributions to the workplace.

The episode concludes with Hana reflecting on her journey and the mission of her business: to ensure that office managers are valued, supported, and empowered to excel in their roles.

Key points

10 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Hana Gray's Journey: Hana Gray, the founder and CEO of the Office Management Group, started her career as a branch secretary and eventually established a consultancy and training business to support office managers globally.
2. Misconceptions about Office Management: Office management roles are often undervalued and misunderstood, with many people not realising the broad scope of responsibilities that office managers handle.
3. Broad Scope of Responsibilities: Office managers are responsible for facilities management, event management, culture, wellbeing, health and safety, reception, and remote working policies, among other tasks.
4. Growth of the Office Management Group: The Office Management Group offers a membership platform, events, an exhibition, awards, a podcast, group training courses, and one-to-one B2B consultancy.
5. Importance of Office Managers: Having an office manager in every office is crucial, especially as businesses grow and expand.
6. Challenges Faced by Office Managers: Office managers often face challenges due to the broad and varied nature of their roles, making it difficult to educate others about their importance.
7. Support and Training: Proper training and support for office managers are essential to ensure they can excel in their roles.
8. Hana's Career Progression: Hana's career progression included roles at JP Morgan, RBS, and City Index, where she realised the lack of support and training for office managers.
9. Establishing the Business: Hana established the Office Management Group to address the gaps she observed in the industry and to ensure office managers receive the support they need.
10. Community and Networking: The Office Management Group has created a community for office managers to connect, share experiences, and support each other.

Hana Gray - biography:

Hana Gray is a dynamic leader and the founder of The Office Management Group, a consultancy dedicated to supporting office and administrative professionals globally. Her journey began with a strong belief in the vital role that office personnel play in the success of any business. This belief has driven her to create a platform that not only provides resources and training but also celebrates the contributions of these professionals.

Before founding The Office Management Group, Hana gained extensive experience in office management and administration, which equipped her with the insights needed to address the challenges faced by office professionals. Her work is characterised by a commitment to empowering these individuals through education, recognition, and community-building initiatives.