Samantha Millsaps
Samantha is a dynamic digital marketing professional and cybersecurity advocate known for her ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities within the tech community. Currently serving as a Marketing Specialist at Cyber Advisors, she leads strategic initiatives across social media, email campaigns, and digital advertising, helping organizations strengthen their visibility while promoting cybersecurity awareness. With a background spanning recruiting, sales development, and account management, Samantha brings a well-rounded perspective to building relationships and delivering meaningful business results.
Her career began in sales before transitioning into cybersecurity recruiting during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she quickly developed a passion for the industry’s mission—protecting people and their information. That purpose continues to guide her work today as she bridges the gap between technical solutions and human connection. In addition to her corporate role, Samantha plays a key part in the North Texas ISSA as a Lunch & Learn Program Director, where she plans and executes high-impact events that bring together professionals, students, and industry leaders to foster collaboration and growth.
Driven by integrity, curiosity, and a commitment to continuous improvement, Samantha is known for her ability to create win-win outcomes and build trust across every interaction. Outside of work, she is an avid reader, music lover, and proud pet parent to a lively crew that includes a dog, a tortoise, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants. Whether she’s developing marketing strategies, coordinating community events, or supporting others in their career journeys, Samantha leads with energy, authenticity, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
• Fortinet Certifications in Cybersecurity
• Inbound - HubSpot Academy
• The University of Texas at Dallas
• ISSA (International Security Systems Association)
• North Texas ISSA
• Board Member at North Texas ISSA - Coordinating industry events for cybersecurity professionals to generate funds for scholarships
What do you attribute your success to?
I think that I am very tenacious. Whatever path that I'm on, regardless of the hurdles that are in front of me, I am going to do whatever I can possible to get from point A to that endpoint, even if I have to stop at B, C, D, E, F. Another thing is that I'm very, very, very generous with my time. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for the people who took a chance on me and helped open doors for me along the way, and so now I definitely try and do the same for others. I'm very generous with my time, meeting people, talking with them, asking them about their career, and how I might be able to help. Making introductions to other people, just anything that I can do to help somebody, I will always say yes to that, because you never know when someone else is going to be able to pay a favor back, and you never know when you might need that.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say find a mentor. Find somebody whose career you want to emulate. And make friends with them, and ask them questions, and ask for help, but also have a plan for what you want to get out of that mentorship, you know, and what it is that you're trying to achieve by working with a mentor. So I would say find a mentor. And then also, just on a more practical and tactical skill set, don't be afraid of innovation, and make sure that you are up to date on industry trends, and what is happening in the careers that you want to have, and in the industries that you want to work in. You know, if AI is something that's taking away jobs, go learn how to use all the AI tools that are relevant to the type of job that you're wanting to do, because AI isn't going to take your job, people using AI is going to take your job. So just always stay up-to-date on technology and know what's happening in your industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think that the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field today is that entry-level jobs are really disappearing overnight with the rise of AI, both in cybersecurity as well as in marketing specifically, the function I fill for my business. I think that for the folks who are coming out fresh out of college and trying to enter into the workforce, I just think that there's not a lot of opportunities for junior-level professionals these days. You know, there's already a skill gap within cybersecurity, and so not having a way to turn junior folks into senior folks, I think, over the next 3 to 5 years is really going to impact the industry as a whole.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think compassion and integrity. Somebody once asked me, like, what's the difference between empathy and compassion? You know, empathy is relating to people, being able to understand where they are, but compassion goes a step further. It's not just understanding where a person is and being able to relate to them, but then offering a hand or taking action to do something to help them out in those situations. So, I think, be compassionate, be somebody who's always willing to say, like, what can I do? What can I do to help? And then, you know, integrity, just always act as if everything that you're doing may come to light in front of the most important people in your life tomorrow. And make sure that in every way that you move, in every choice that you make in your life, both personally and professionally, that you are doing it - you're making the decisions that you would make in front of all of the people whose opinions you value the most. That, you know, you're always acting in the right way.