Her Story
About Samantha
Her career began on Capitol Hill and with large government contractors, giving her a strong foundation in public policy, legislative strategy, and complex government environments. She went on to earn her MBA from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business while working at SAIC and Leidos, building the analytical and strategic grounding that would define her later leadership roles.
Prior to Kaizen, as Chief Growth Officer at Shift5, Samantha led strategic growth initiatives spanning go-to-market strategy, sales enablement, marketing, government and public affairs, communications, and industry engagement — helping drive the company's strongest first half on record, a doubling of bookings, and several transformational strategic wins. Before that, she held senior leadership roles at Datavant and CLEAR, focusing on federal and government affairs, Congressional engagement, regulatory strategy, identity technology, privacy, and security. Earlier in her career, she helped shape legislation and manage major initiatives that secured more than $800 million in additional funding and new programs, while also protecting existing resources during highly constrained budget environments.
Samantha's accomplishments have earned her recognition as a Top Lobbyist by The Hill (2024, 2025) and the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (2020, 2024, 2025), as well as a place among Women We Admire's Top Women Leaders of DC (2025, 2026).
Beyond her executive career, Samantha is an entrepreneur and creative professional. In 2014, she founded Chic Creative, an interior design firm specializing in commercial spaces and residential renovations — a venture that lets her channel the same instinct for vision and execution she brings to her policy and growth work into physical spaces. She credits her success to courage, determination, and an underdog mindset shaped by challenging early experiences, qualities that have taught her to embrace difficult challenges, spot opportunity where others don't, and lead with resilience and confidence. Family, loyalty, integrity, and a strong work ethic remain the values that guide her — in her leadership at Kaizen, in her entrepreneurial ventures, and in her broader commitment to making a meaningful impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samantha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my drive, resilience, and willingness to step outside my comfort zone. Coming from a difficult upbringing instilled in me a strong desire to create a better future for my children and to build a life defined by opportunity and achievement. I have learned that pursuing something new requires courage, and I have never been afraid to take calculated risks or challenge myself to grow. Being the underdog has also been a powerful motivator, inspiring me to continually push beyond expectations and prove to myself that I am capable of accomplishing whatever I set my mind to.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering the industry to recognize that having it all does not necessarily mean having everything at the same time. Building a successful career and a fulfilling personal life is a process that requires patience, flexibility, and an understanding that priorities will shift throughout different seasons of life. There will be times when your career demands more of your attention and other times when family or personal priorities take precedence. Finding balance involves giving and taking, making intentional choices, and allowing yourself the time and space to grow. You can have the career, family, and life you want, but it may not all happen at once, and that is perfectly okay.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are loyalty, a strong work ethic, courage, family, and maintaining a positive mindset. Family always comes first, and that priority influences the choices I make both personally and professionally. I believe in approaching challenges with courage, staying committed to the people and goals that matter, and maintaining a mindset focused on possibilities rather than limitations. When building a team, I also place a strong emphasis on mindset and hunger, because skills can be developed, but a genuine desire to learn, grow, contribute, and succeed is invaluable.
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