Samantha is responsible for unlocking the full potential of Verizon’s workforce, because it takes more than the best technology to move the world forward, it also takes the best people.

Sam is preparing Verizon's workforce to deliver on the promise of 5G. By supporting a culture of continuous development and learning, all teams, no matter where they sit in the organization, are ready to accelerate Verizon's business strategies and build the future.

Core to her strategy is to foster an inclusive workplace and champion diverse talent at all levels and across the business. With recognition from leading industry authorities, Verizon has received top honors from Forbes, Newsweek, Seramount, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), Black Enterprise, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Disability: IN and Military Friendly®.

Sam joined Verizon in December 2020 as senior vice president of global talent, leading the HR Talent Center of Excellence. Given the transformative time for the industry, she strengthened learning and development practices and introduced new programs to recruit and retain the right skills and talent to deliver on the company’s priorities.

Prior to Verizon, she spent over 14 years at American Express in various executive roles, from finance and banking to leadership positions across HR. Most recently, she was head of talent and learning, where she transformed how the company attracted and engaged its workforce by building a dynamic talent ecosystem. Sam also implemented a culture of continuous learning to reinforce talent readiness across American Express. Before joining American Express, she worked for JPMorgan Chase for six years, based out of Chicago.

Corporate and charitable leadership

Leading by example, Sam is tireless in her pursuit of gender equality by creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace for women. As the co-executive sponsor of the Women's Association of Verizon Employees (WAVE) employee resource group, she works to amplify opportunities for women to thrive at work. Sam is sponsor of Women's CoLab, which helps women advance in their careers by providing a constellation of free resources and peer-to-peer support.

Personal and educational background

Sam received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University and holds an MBA in Finance from Wayne State University. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three children and three dogs.