Her Story
About Samantha
Samantha Summerford serves as Territory Manager at Abbott, where she works in deep brain stimulation as part of the neuromodulation division. With a business management degree, she began her career in sales at Marriott in New Jersey before being promoted to a role in Austin, Texas. Seeking greater stability and growth opportunities, she transitioned to Abbott, starting in an internal role and advancing through several positions with increasing responsibility to her current field role covering the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. In 2025, Summerford was recognized as Territory Manager of the Year across her division, an achievement made especially meaningful as she accomplished it while pregnant with her first child. She attributes her success to adaptability and resilience, drawing inspiration from her parents' example of long-term dedication to a single employer. Summerford advises others to do what they say they are going to do, emphasizing that reliability and dependability define one's brand. She encourages young women entering the industry to learn their craft and be confident, noting that she succeeded without a nursing degree.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samantha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think just being adaptable, you know, things change all the time... remaining adaptable, resilient. Also my parents were baby boomers who worked for 30-plus years at the same company and then retired, so that's the example I've got.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do what you say you're gonna do. Just that reflects like reliability and dependability, and you know your brand means everything.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I can do it, anyone can do it, because I don't have a nursing degree. So learn your craft and be confident.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Patient education is always a struggle. It feels like you can never be too involved in the community, trying to educate patients on their options... We're outnumbered and have a lot of ground to cover.
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