Eliza Samala, MBA, PMP
Eliza Samala, MBA, PMP, is a Senior Project Manager at SP+ (SP Plus), where she leads complex, cross-functional initiatives at the intersection of technology and business. With more than 20 years of professional experience—and over a decade dedicated specifically to project management—Eliza has built a dynamic career spanning marketing, government contracts, telecommunications, and the parking technology industry. Known for her ability to align stakeholders, manage diverse personalities, and keep high-visibility projects on track, she brings a strategic, people-centered approach to every engagement. Her expertise includes vendor management, contract negotiation and administration, quality control, budget tracking, and process improvement.
Eliza began her career in marketing at Dish Network, managing pay-per-view campaigns while earning her MBA and balancing the responsibilities of raising a young family. She later transitioned into government contracts management, supporting small businesses in securing and administering contract awards while ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines. From there, she moved into telecommunications, advancing into project coordination and management roles with organizations including T-Mobile, Black Box Network Services, Ledcor, and FlashParking. Over the past six years, she has focused on the evolving parking and mobility space, supporting AI-powered technology implementations and driving innovation through strong business-technology integration.
Eliza holds a Bachelor of Science in Business/Corporate Communications from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in Executive Management from Colorado Technical University-Greenwood Village. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a member of the Project Management Institute. Fluent in Spanish and deeply committed to continuous learning, Eliza believes that adaptability and collaboration are the cornerstones of sustained professional growth. Her leadership philosophy centers on removing obstacles, empowering teams, and delivering measurable results in fast-paced, ever-evolving industries.
• Colorado Technical University-Greenwood Village - MBA
• Project Management Institute
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the fact that I am always willing to learn. You don't always get to really pick where you work sometimes - you're limited to what's available. In order to really be passionate about it, I think you have to learn about it. I've had to pivot from one industry to the next, and as soon as you think that you know everything, you don't. I think that's been the most challenging part - having to really embrace and engulf yourself in that world and what those intricacies are within each industry. But if you learn to really roll with it and go with the flow, it's incredible where you can end up.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received professionally is not to take things too seriously and to relax sometimes. It's not the end of the world if you don't get to do XYZ. Sometimes you have to take time out for yourself so that you can come back refreshed. I think a lot of us do this to ourselves when we're younger - we're working our way up the corporate ladder and we think that by burning the midnight oil, that's going to get us there. But we don't focus on the things that are actually important to the people that make those decisions. Once we start to focus on those things - what is going to drive revenue for your company, what makes the most business sense - that is what is going to get you seen.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be curious. Just be absolutely curious, and try to learn as much as you can, and embrace it. Embrace the journey and see where it takes you. I've loved every single part of my journey. If you learn to really roll with it and go with the flow, it's incredible where you can end up. I thought I was going to be in marketing forever - I fell in love with it - but that's not what happened, and I wouldn't change it. I love the fact that I'm here now, and 20 years ago, I would have never told you that I would have been okay with working in the parking industry. But with the whole AI thing and where we're going next, it's great to see.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say that the biggest challenge is that the customer is terrified at times - they're asking, what are you doing with my information? You still have a lot of hesitation from the average person because they don't know, and I think they're scared of what they don't know. The tech is great when it works - it works amazing - but you're going to find that some people are just cautious. They're not completely opposed, but they are cautious. The biggest opportunity, I think, is being able to show people that this isn't scary, that this is the next step forward and it's actually going to help them. It's a positive thing. We try to implement seamless solutions to make the customer experience amazing.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The value I hold most deeply, both professionally and personally, is relationships. Building and nurturing strong, meaningful connections is at the heart of everything I do. I believe that whether in the workplace or in life, fostering genuine relationships is what truly matters. At the end of the day, we are all human first, and treating one another with respect, empathy, and care is central to my approach.
Locations
SP+ (SP Plus)
Round Rock, TX 78665