Vida Acheampomaa
Vida Acheampomaa is a cybersecurity professional specializing in third-party threat intelligence and vendor risk management. She currently serves as a Vendor Risk Management Analyst at Samsung Semiconductor, where she leads efforts to evaluate and monitor the cybersecurity posture of third-party vendors that interact with the company’s systems and infrastructure. Her work focuses on identifying potential security risks in external partnerships, ensuring vendors meet strict compliance and security standards, and protecting the organization from potential breaches that could arise through third-party access.
With a strong background in information security, Acheampomaa has developed expertise in risk assessment, security compliance, and regulatory frameworks such as FISMA and industry cybersecurity standards. Prior to joining Samsung, she worked as an Information Security Analyst at Oncor Electric Delivery, where she supported internal and external audits, documented security assessments, and helped remediate vulnerabilities across enterprise systems. Earlier in her career, she served as a Third-Party Risk Analyst at Innova Solutions, where she managed vendor risk reviews, conducted compliance assessments, and coordinated with legal and security teams to evaluate enterprise vendor relationships.
Acheampomaa holds a master’s degree in cybersecurity from University of Dallas and continues to build her expertise through ongoing certifications and industry training. Known for her analytical mindset and collaborative approach, she is passionate about helping organizations strengthen their cybersecurity defenses while also encouraging more women to pursue careers in the field. Through mentorship and community engagement, she advocates for persistence, curiosity, and confidence as essential qualities for success in the ever-evolving cybersecurity industry.
• CYSA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst Plus)
• Technical Training with Pear Scholars
• Cyberber essentials
• Cyber Operation
• Networking Essentials
• CompTIA CySA+ ce Certification
• Cybersecurity Foundations: Governance, Risk, and Compliance
• Cybersecurity Outsourcing: Vendor Selection and Management
• CRISC Cert Prep: 2 IT Risk Assessment
• Protecting Your Software with Component Analysis
• Agile Teams in the Age of AI
• Learning Splunk
• Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
• Insider Threat Hunting: Detecting and Responding to Internal Security Risks
• The University of Dallas- Master's
• Per Scholas
• Security Red Flag Detection Plaque
• WECIS (Women in Cybersecurity)
• ISSA (Information Systems Security Association)
• Habitat for Humanity (quarterly volunteer)
• University outreach educating young women about cybersecurity
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to continuous learning. As of today, even though I've been in the industry for 7 years, I hear something new every day. And so the moment somebody says something new, which is, of course, tied to our industry, I go back to learning. I'm researching on this, I'm like, I should know this. So, continuous learning has been my strongest asset and keeps me growing.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was to ask for help when I need help. I was told that there are broad perspectives of knowledge around us, and there are people with different ideas to help you build a solid information or presentation. And so, if you are stuck in decision-making, you need to ask for help.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice for a young woman who has an opportunity to enter the industry is to ask for help. Because people are willing to help you, people have the knowledge, people have seen any challenge that you are about to see. And so, if you need anything, you need to ask for help. And the second thing is to be a continuous learner. You cannot stop learning, because the technology world keeps growing.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I was very lucky to have great mentors throughout my career, so I didn't struggle a lot. I had so many opportunities to grow. I was lucky to meet leaders, female leaders that are willing to hold my hand and show me how to grow, what to do, and who to talk to when I need help. So, it made my career journey a little more smooth. The only challenge is being a mom. It's difficult to go back to school and work at the same time.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity. Just staying strong to what you are meant to be. Because at every point in time, there will be something or somebody trying to shift your perspective. But then I just stand on my foundation. This is who I am, this is what I'm trying to achieve. The wind will keep blowing, but I'm not changing it.