Pennsylvania woman whose first job was scrubbing toilets in a Baltimore McDonald's now owns TWELVE of the fast-food giant's restaurants after 44 years of hard work

A Pennsylvania woman who began her career scrubbing toilets at McDonalds now owns 12 of the chain's restaurants.

Tanya Hill-Holliday has spent 44 years climbing the corporate ladder at McDonald's after joining the crew at a Baltimore restaurant in 1980.

'I was told I wasn't supposed to be here I was called every name but my name,' Hill-Holliday told CBS News Philadelphia. 

'But I kept my head down and kept working'  she explained. 

After holding 13 different positions within the company, including vice president, Hill-Holliday took her stock options and purchased her first restaurant, the Rosemont McDonald's next to Villanova University, in 2005.

Tanya Hill-Holliday has spent 44 years climbing the corporate ladder at McDonald's after joining the crew at a Baltimore restaurant in 1980

Hill-Holliday began working for the fast-food company while studying at Morgan State University

She purchased her first restaurant, the Rosemont McDonald's next to Villanova University, in 2005

Hill-Holliday began working for the fast-food franchise while studying at Morgan State University.

'I picked up the Yellow Pages at that time, started flipping through and I saw a listing for McDonald's,' she recalled.

'I always enjoyed what I was doing, as difficult as it was to be told, 'You got to clean a table, you got to clean the toilets, you got to scrub the baseboards. I did it,' she explained.

Hill-Holliday's franchise is now worth around $1.5 million, and she oversees more than 600 employees.

She also serves as the National Black McDonald's Operators Association Chair and CEO of 168 entities across the U.S

Hill-Holliday's franchise is now worth around $1.5 million, and she oversees more than 600 employees

Hill-Holiday was born in Virginia but now lives in a $700,000 home in Ardmore, Pennsylvania

She also serves as the National Black McDonald's Operators Association Chair and CEO of 168 entities across the U.S. 

Hill-Holiday says she hopes her journey inspires young people working their first job.

'Stay motivated, stay encouraged, stay prayed up. I stay prayed up all the time,' she added. 

Hill-Holiday was born in Virginia but now lives in a $700,000 home in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.