When Sheila Bartel-Sam, CEO and founder of Platinum Technologies, walked into Ghana Oil two years ago, she was not prepared for what she would be asked to do.  Impressed with Platinum Technologies proposal to set up electronic payments and improve upon customer experiences, Ghana Oil requested that Sheila set up a customer payment system within two weeks.  Sheila was up for the task.  As she recalls, it was the hardest two weeks of her life, “I am a very daring person.  At the time, Platinum Technologies didn’t have any systems in place.  I didn’t have anything.”  Six years later and with over 25 employees, Platinum Technologies has gone from 6 payment locations to over 80 nationwide.  Ghana Oil remains one of Platinum Technologies primary clients.

A self-starter with a natural talent in IT Technologies, Sheila’s keen sense for recognizing market needs led her to start Platinum Technologies in 2004.  Over the years and following emerging market needs, Platinum Technologies has shifted from IT Training to providing corporate electronic payment services in the area of card program, loyalty management and services enhancing productivity and efficiency in payments. Moving forward, Sheila hopes to not only work with large corporations but also revolutionize the way Ghanaian organizations such as churches and schools collect payments.

One of Sheila’s greatest obstacles as a businesswoman in Ghana has been access to capitol.  She is hopeful that in the future, women will have greater ease in obtaining sufficient capital to get their businesses off the ground.