Samantha Long
Samantha Long, MBA is a Retail Store Development Manager at Läderach, where she leads high-end chocolate boutique buildouts across North America. Based in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Samantha oversees the full lifecycle of retail development projects—from site approval and design coordination to construction management and store turnover. In just six months, she has successfully completed 10 store openings, working coast to coast to deliver brand-consistent, on-time, and high-quality retail environments that support Läderach’s continued growth.
With a career rooted in the foodservice and QSR industries, Samantha brings extensive experience in kitchen equipment manufacturing, supply, franchising, and retail development. She has held progressive project management roles with organizations supporting major brands such as Wingstop, Whataburger, Jack in the Box, Burger King, Popeyes, and REEF. Known for her strong organizational skills, problem-solving mindset, and ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects, she excels at aligning architects, contractors, vendors, and internal teams to drive efficient execution. Her background includes contract negotiation, permitting, construction oversight, SOP development, and process improvement at scale.
Samantha holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word, where she graduated with honors and demonstrated early leadership through entrepreneurial initiatives and competition wins. A driven and authentic leader, she values collaboration, continuous improvement, and staying true to her voice in a fast-paced industry. As her career continues to evolve, Samantha remains focused on building exceptional spaces, empowering strong teams, and contributing to brands that value quality, craftsmanship, and growth.
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
• University of the Incarnate Word
• Business Plan Competition Winner
• Pitch Competition Winner
• Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization
• Business Club
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to strong teamwork, confidence, and an unwavering drive to succeed. Collaborating with talented, supportive teams has allowed me to learn, grow, and deliver results, while confidence and determination push me to take on challenges and see projects through.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my dad: it’s okay to cry and feel stressed, but you can never shut down. That reminder has taught me the importance of resilience, staying engaged, and continuing to move forward even during challenging moments.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to focus on earning respect through professionalism, preparation, and consistency. Learn as much as you can from the people around you who are willing to teach and support you, and never underestimate the power of networking—building strong relationships can open doors and accelerate your growth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is managing construction issues, particularly rework caused by design changes, coordination gaps, or execution errors. At the same time, this challenge presents an opportunity to improve processes, strengthen communication across teams, and implement clearer standards that reduce risk, control costs, and drive more efficient project delivery.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are teamwork and self-belief. I strive to collaborate effectively with others, knowing that strong teams achieve more together, while also trusting my own abilities to take initiative, overcome challenges, and contribute meaningfully to every project and relationship.