Nicole Carter

I attribute my success to the people who shaped me, the experiences that challenged me, and a lifelong commitment to helping others advocate for themselves.

My family taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: stand up for yourself, especially when it's difficult. They showed me that self-advocacy isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about having the courage to know your worth, speak with conviction, and never let someone else define your future. My friends have been equally important, celebrating my successes, carrying me through life's challenges, and reminding me that no meaningful journey is accomplished alone.

Professionally, I was fortunate to build a career that allowed me to advocate for others every day. My experience as both a litigator representing small businesses and an in-house attorney advising leading defense and technology organizations taught me that the best outcomes rarely happen by chance. They come from preparation, strategy, and having the confidence to ask better questions before the deal is done.

Building NEGOTIATi℠ has been one of the most exciting chapters of my career. After years of providing day-to-day legal counsel, I realized I was most passionate about helping people long before they ever needed a lawyer. Today, I'm dedicated to building a company that makes world-class negotiation preparation accessible to everyone.

I've also found inspiration in literature, especially The Count of Monte Cristo. More than an adventure, it's a reminder that no circumstance is permanent and that resilience, patience, and a thoughtful plan can overcome even the greatest obstacles. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life and continues to shape how I approach negotiation, business, and leadership.

At the end of the day, I don't measure success by titles or accomplishments. I measure it by whether I've helped someone walk into an important conversation more prepared, more confident, and more willing to advocate for themselves. If I've done that, then I've been successful.

The best career advice I ever received was to build a career that supports the life you want to live, not the other way around.

Most people start by asking, "What job do I want?" I think a better question is, "What do I want my ideal day to look like?" What time do you wake up? Who do you spend your time with? Where do you work? How much flexibility do you want? What kind of impact do you hope to make?

Once you have a clear vision of your ideal day, work backward. Choose opportunities, build skills, and make decisions that move you closer to that life. It may not happen overnight, but if you stay intentional and persistent, you can build a career or a business that supports the life you've imagined.

For me, success was never about chasing the next title. It was about creating the freedom to do meaningful work, serve others, continue learning, and build a life that reflects my values. I believe careers should be designed with purpose because when your work supports the life you want, success becomes much more meaningful.

If I could offer one piece of advice to young women, it would be this: stop putting yourself into an age bucket

Too often, we tell ourselves we're too young to ask for more, too inexperienced to speak up, or that we'll negotiate later when we've "earned it." The truth is, negotiation doesn't begin when you reach a certain age, title, or salary. It begins the moment you start making decisions that shape your life and your future.

I encourage young women to view negotiation as an essential life skill, not just a career skill. Learn to advocate for yourself early. Seek mentors and strategic support. Ask thoughtful questions. Understand your leverage, not just your value, and don't be afraid to negotiate compensation, opportunities, responsibilities, and expectations that reflect your contributions and your goals. Negotiation isn't something you'll eventually need. It's a skill you'll use for the rest of your life.

Most importantly, don't wait for permission to do anything, go for any role, take on any title, start your own venture-- go for it!

Every obstacle builds confidence, and confidence compounds over time. The earlier you learn to advocate for yourself, the more opportunities you'll create throughout your career and your life.

One of the biggest challenges I see today is that many people are negotiating during a time of tremendous uncertainty. Layoffs, economic shifts, and increased competition have left many professionals, entrepreneurs, creators, athletes, and small business owners worried that if they ask too many questions or negotiate too hard, the opportunity will disappear. Large organizations understand that fear, and it often becomes part of the negotiation itself.

As a result, many people underestimate their leverage. They focus on what they could lose instead of the value they bring and the strategic options available to them. One of my greatest challenges, and opportunities, is helping people recognize that negotiation support isn't just about improving a contract. It's about improving decisions, increasing confidence, and creating better outcomes long before an agreement is signed.

Looking ahead, I see tremendous opportunity to expand access to negotiation education through digital platforms. I believe technology can dramatically improve how people prepare for important conversations, but negotiation itself remains deeply human.

The values that guide both my work and my personal life are service, integrity, courage, curiosity, and self-advocacy.

Service is at the center of everything I do. Whether I'm preparing a client for an important negotiation, creating educational content, or mentoring someone, my goal is always the same: to leave people more confident, more prepared, and better equipped than when they came to me.

Integrity means keeping my word, doing what's right even when it's difficult, and treating people with fairness and respect. I believe the best negotiations aren't won through pressure or manipulation. They are built on preparation, trust, and a genuine desire to create better outcomes.

Courage is equally important. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my life have required stepping outside my comfort zone, embracing uncertainty, and believing that growth happens when we're willing to take thoughtful risks.

Curiosity has shaped my career from the very beginning. I've always wanted to understand why people make decisions, what creates leverage, and how better preparation can change an outcome. That curiosity continues to drive my work every day.

Finally, I believe deeply in self-advocacy. I've learned that opportunities rarely come from waiting to be recognized. They come from being prepared, finding your voice, and having the confidence to ask for what you need. Helping others develop those skills isn't just my profession. It's my purpose.

At the end of the day, I hope people remember me not for the deals I negotiated, but for the people I empowered to negotiate their own.