Sandy Carter
Sandra "Sandy" Carter | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, author, public speaker, technology executive |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Leadership roles at IBM, Amazon Web Services, and Unstoppable Domains; author of business and technology books |
| Notable work | The New Language of Business: SOA & Web 2.0; The New Language of Marketing 2.0; Get Bold; Extreme Innovation; Tiger and the Rabbit; AI First, Human Always |
Sandra “Sandy” Carter is a prominent American entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. Between 2013 and 2016, she held the position of general manager at IBM, where she concentrated on expanding the AI cloud division and integrating innovative technologies. From 2017 until 2021, she served as vice president at Amazon Web Services, leading initiatives in enterprise marketing, AI cloud solutions, innovation, and worldwide go-to-market execution. Presently, she acts as the chief operating officer at Unstoppable Domains, spearheading partnership development and fostering the adoption of decentralized identity within the Web3 ecosystem.
Early life and education
Carter earned her Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Duke University and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is skilled in eight different programming languages.
Career
During her tenure at IBM from 2013 to 2016, Carter managed AI cloud business units as general manager, driving both technological integration and market growth. In 2017, she transitioned to Amazon Web Services as vice president, where she concentrated on enterprise marketing strategies and global expansion until 2021.
In 2021, Carter took on the role of Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships at Unstoppable Domains before being elevated to COO in 2023. Her leadership has been instrumental in broadening the company's footprint in the Web3 space through strategic alliances and promoting decentralized identity technologies.
Speaking engagements and membership
Carter has been a featured keynote speaker at international events such as SXSW, CES, Web Summit, and gatherings hosted by the World Economic Forum, addressing topics like innovation, artificial intelligence, Web3 developments, and women’s roles in technology.
She regularly writes for leading outlets including Forbes and VentureBeat, focusing on emerging tech trends and leadership insights within the technology sector.
Previously serving as chairman of the board for the nonprofit Girls in Tech and an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley, Carter currently holds board positions at Altair (specializing in AI and simulation), Authentrics (an AI startup), CrowdGenAI (AI startup), and Secret Network (Decentralized AI).
Additionally, she was a member of the advisory board for the Internet of Things Community. The 360Fashion Network honored her by naming a wireless charging wallet "The Sandy," which was exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry in 2019.
In 2025, Carter participated in an exclusive dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for leading holders of his $TRUMP meme coin; attendees reportedly invested an average of $1.8 million each to attend.
Recognition
- Ranked among Top 5 Women in Technology
- Awarded "Top 3 Innovation Influencer" at SXSW (2017)
- Honored as "Brand Leader of the Year" by World Brand Congress (2009)
- Listed in Fast Company’s "Most Influential Women in Technology" (2009)
- Named one of CNN Magazine’s "Ten Most Powerful Women in Tech" (2012)
- Received NAFE’s "Social Media Star" and "Woman of Excellence" awards (2012)
- Franz Edelman Laureate for Analytics Innovation
- Featured as one of Forbes’ “Global Top 40 Marketing Masters”
- Included among Top 100 Global Thought Leaders by Awards Magazine (2022)
- Recognized as one of Top 115 Most Inspirational Women in Web3/Metaverse/AI (2024)
- Selected as Microsoft MSN’s Top 10 AI Entrepreneurs (2024)
- Featured in DappRadar’s Top 18 Women of Web3 (2025)
- Named among Executive Women of GenAI (2025)
- Included in Adweek’s AI Power 100 list (2025)
Selected publications
Carter has written seven books centered on business topics, such as The New Language of Business: SOA & Web 2.0; The New Language of Marketing 2.0: Social Media, which received the Silver Marketing Sherpa award in 2009; Get Bold (2011); and Extreme Innovation: 3 Superpowers for Purpose and Profit (2017).
- "The New Language of Business: SOA & Web 2.0", IBM Press, 2007
- "The New Language of Marketing 2.0: How to Use ANGELS to Energize Your Market", IBM Press, 2008
- "Get Bold: Using Social Media to Create a New Type of Social Business", IBM Press, 2011
- "Extreme Innovation: 3 Superpowers for Purpose and Profit", Param Media, 2017
- "Geek Girls are Chic", e-book, 2015
- Tiger and the Rabbit, Wiley, 2024
- "AI First, Human Always: Embracing a New Mindset for the Era of Superintelligence", Wiley, 2025