Samantha Sulmonte
Samantha Sulmonte is a highly accomplished accounting and finance professional with over 13 years of experience spanning medical, nonprofit, and public utility sectors. She currently serves as Lead Treasury Specialist in Corporate Finance at National Grid, where she is responsible for optimizing capital structures, managing bond and debt issuances, and ensuring compliance across multiple U.S. operating companies. Samantha’s career journey began in accounts payable at Brady Systems after relocating from Long Island to Syracuse, where a recruiter recognized her talent for numbers and problem-solving and guided her into accounting. She has since built a robust track record in treasury management, regulatory compliance, GAAP accounting, and financial strategy.
Throughout her career, Samantha has demonstrated a commitment to professional growth and leadership. She began as a contractor for National Grid in 2016 and, after gaining experience across several organizations, joined the company full-time in 2021. Recognizing the value of formal education, she returned to school 10 years into her career, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Penn State University in 2020 and is currently completing her MBA in Finance at Penn State World Campus. Her work ethic, combined with a passion for mentoring and supporting others, has enabled her to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across audit, tax, insurance, and regulatory functions.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Samantha is dedicated to giving back to her community through volunteer initiatives with local food banks and Meals on Wheels. She is a strong advocate for women in finance, encouraging young professionals to seek mentorship and proactively pursue leadership opportunities. Samantha credits her success to her willingness to face challenges head-on, a supportive personal network, and a philosophy of valuing appreciation, clear communication, and people-focused leadership. Her vision is to continue growing as a director in finance, fostering a collaborative environment where her team can thrive and achieve their goals.
• Penn State University – B.S., Accounting
• Penn State World Campus – MBA, Finance (In Progress)
• Influential Women 2026
• Influential Women Network
• Phi Theta Kappa, Honor Society
• Food Bank
• Meals on Wheels
What do you attribute your success to?
I've learned to not let fear get in my way, and go for things, even if I feel like I have a 1% chance, just going for it anyway. That mentality has really helped me throughout my career, whether it was relocating to a new city, going back to school 10 years later, or pushing for the positions I wanted. I also have to credit the incredible support from my husband. When I was struggling about going back to school because I had hit my ceiling and had all this experience but no one would give me a job without a degree, he kept telling me that if that's in my way, go get it. He knew I could do it even when I was scared I couldn't, and he was definitely right. Having that kind of support system has been essential to my success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received came from my husband. I struggled for a long time about going back to school because I had hit my ceiling in my career. I had all this experience, but no one was going to give me a job because I didn't have a degree. He really just kept telling me that if that's in my way, go get it. He told me I could do it, and he knew I could do it even when I was scared I couldn't. That advice to not stop and not give up on what it is I wanted to do really changed everything for me. It pushed me to go back to school, earn my degree, and now I'm pursuing my MBA. His belief in me gave me the confidence to overcome my fear and keep pushing forward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say you need to ask people for help. If you even just ask for it, you'll get it 99% of the time. People might not always volunteer it, but if you ask for it, then they'll help guide you and get you to where you want to go. Find the right mentors, or just reach out to people in leadership roles. I've reached out to so many different people in leadership that had nothing to even do with my area, and I've gotten guidance in different areas. There's not always that help that you need for people to automatically support you to move up and move forward, so you have to kind of push for yourself and advocate for what you need. Don't wait for opportunities to come to you, go after them.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I've seen it with some of my younger coworkers - there's a lack of confidence, and they're not pushing for themselves the way they need to. You have to advocate for yourself and ask for what you need. There's not always that help and support automatically there for people to help you move up and move forward. You have to be proactive and go after it yourself. The challenge is really about young women finding their voice and having the confidence to speak up and ask for opportunities, mentorship, and advancement.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say appreciation, both in giving it and getting it. I think everybody wants to feel like they're being heard, so strong communication is something I really value. And leadership is incredibly important to me - not just being a manager, but being a leader. Those are two very different things in my opinion. I value someone who knows how to be a leader of people, and that's what I strive to be myself. It's about truly caring for your team, helping them reach their goals, and creating an environment where people feel appreciated and heard.