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When Samantha Mejia opened a presentation at PriceSmart with the works of Leonardo da Vinci, the company’s president later told her that he had no idea how she was going to transition into supply chain matters.
“I went on for da Vinci for about ten minutes,” Mejia says, laughing. “I was talking about geometry, nature, math, and art. Whatever those artists did, it wasn’t done in a vacuum. It was done in a collaborative environment where everyone worked together and learned from each other. It ties in so directly with how the supply chain operates, you just have to think a little differently about it.”
The vice president of global logistics, planning process, and optimization at PriceSmart is a voice worth listening to. Mejia is a twenty-six-year veteran of the warehouse clubs with a strong presence in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The VP first started with the company as a demonstration coordinator, making sure food samples or product demonstrations went smoothly. Within six months, she was promoted to assistant buyer, despite having no experience in foods procurement.
“I tell people all the time, just keep your options open. You never know where you’ll go.”
Samantha Mejia
Mejia’s rise, success, and continued growth over twenty-six years across multiple countries is both a testament to an organization continually willing to take a chance on an employee that it believes in, and how a company can flourish when it finds people like Mejia, capable of growing by leaps and bounds in whatever new role she finds herself in.
The leader’s work ethic was shaped by two parents who instilled different, but complementary, values in their daughter. Mejia’s father gave her the love of learning and the drive to excel.
“Ninety-nine percent wasn’t good enough,” the VP remembers. Mejia’s mother emphasized punctuality, kindness, and core values that keep her grounded and connected to her roots. Those combined values created a self-confident, curious, and compassionate individual.
It isn’t a surprise that Mejia has been able to achieve success across multiple borders. The Honduran native immersed herself in English at an early age, consuming books, music, and television while in her Spanish surroundings. That fascination is evident in the VP’s virtually unidentifiable accent, despite not moving to the US until she was an adult.
In Honduras, career opportunities at the time were limited, even for a college graduate. Mejia didn’t want to be an engineer or an architect, so she went into business administration, working for an airline, a hotel, and a garment manufacturer after graduating from university. A chance encounter would alert her to a new PriceSmart opening. She didn’t get the job she wanted, but her time as a demo coordinator soon gave way to decades of growth and innovation.
Three years in, Mejia was promoted to a fresh foods buyer role that required her to move to the US. She was excited about the opportunity for advancement, but there was just one problem: She didn’t know a soul.
“The first two years in the US were very hard,” the VP says. “There were times when I thought about moving back home. My colleagues, who were kind to invite me out, had their own families and lives. I just had my work. At the same time, I was financially supporting my family back home, and I knew it was for the best. Fortunately, I met my now husband, and that gave me a best friend and someone to go through life with.”
More promotions would come. Mejia has experience building processes from the ground up for a newly formed supply department. She’s also worked in regulatory affairs, leveraging her knowledge of compliance in fresh foods and a growing proficiency in data analytics. She’s not a legal expert, but she knows how to act as a vital bridge between day-to-day regulatory work and broader business objectives. In short, Mejia grows into whatever role she fills.
At present, Mejia oversees logistics, planning, and optimization across thirteen countries and fifty-five locations. The VP’s role encompasses identifying pain points, streamlining operations, and supporting ongoing PriceSmart expansion.
The VP consistently takes time to share knowledge and support colleagues, with an emphasis on helping others understand the reasoning behind decisions and processes. She believes in the importance of openly sharing what she knows to help others grow and succeed.
“The higher up in leadership you get, the more need you see for diverse voices in the room,” Mejia says. “My company definitely recognizes that, and I’m happy to get to act as an extension of those efforts.”
It’s also no surprise that the Leonardo da Vinci enthusiast loves art and history. Mejia’s curiosity runs so deep that she hopes her post-career years can be spent in art restoration and conservation. Vacations at the Mejia household are usually picked for their proximity to art galleries and museums.
“My dad went back to university when he was in his fifties,” Mejia explains. “I have a good role model for staying curious and interested in life. So someday, who knows? I tell people all the time, just keep your options open. You never know where you’ll go.”
Congratulations, Samantha Meija, on your well-deserved Hispanic Executive article! At MBD, we’re proud to work alongside PriceSmart and leaders like Samantha Meija, whose expertise in global logistics helps drive meaningful impact across regions. As a global packaging design agency, our team at MBD brings deep experience in creating strategic, culturally resonant packaging for international markets—including strong familiarity with the Hispanic consumer landscape. From design concepts to final print-ready artwork, we develop packaging systems that balance consistency with local relevance, helping brands like PriceSmart connect with members in Central and South America. We’re honored to play a part in elevating the customer experience at PriceSmart! Let’s chat – contact Katie Locke at [email protected] to learn more about MBD.
