Sandy Carter had never pictured herself at the vanguard of the Web3 revolution when she was younger. Originally wanting to be a doctor, one day a Duke University lecturer turned her life around. “Look at programming,” he said. “You can create things that change people’s lives.” Those comments caught Carter’s attention. She chose then to delve into computers and never turned back.
Sandy studied computer science, even pursuing postgraduate degrees. She learned eight programming languages and developed her thesis on how animal drug testing might be replaced by technology. “Technology can save lives, both human and animal,” she stated in an interview.
**Sandy Carter: Bridging the Digital Identity Gap**
Carter’s career extended beyond academia. She began working among numerous tech giants, like IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS), soon after graduating. At IBM, she oversaw cloud computing and the startup environment. Turning now to AWS, she assisted in creating an artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Internet of Things network of partners.
One question, though, persisted in her mind: why is digital identity still so fractured? Why do third parties still control domain names and identities on the internet? Carter finally arrived at Unstoppable Domains from these questions.
**Joining Unstoppable Domains: A Vision for Digital Ownership**
Carter joined Unstoppable Domains, a startup seeking to transform how individuals own their digital identities, late in 2021. The blockchain-based domain names provided by Unstoppable Domains can be owned for life, unlike traditional domains that have to be renewed yearly. For Carter, this represents a significant first step toward total control for online consumers.
“Think of it this way,” she remarked during one conference, “if you own a Web3 domain name, it’s yours always. There is no annual charge; you can use it for everything from crypto addresses to decentralized email; nobody can take it away.”
As COO, Carter is responsible for not just daily operations but also the development of strategic alliances. Introducing the .podcast domain to Web3 developers was one of her key initiatives. For her, it goes beyond business to create a future where digital identity truly belongs to the individual.
**Sandy Carter: Empowering Women in Blockchain**
Carter came to see that men still dominate the IT sector. She thus started Unstoppable Women of Web3, a project aimed at giving women in the blockchain ecosystem opportunities and knowledge. “We want Web3 to be really inclusive, not only for one particular group,” she stated.
She also actively participates in the Girls in Tech group and continues to push for more women to enter the industry. For her, the digital revolution must include everyone—not only those with initial access or knowledge.
**The Future of Digital Identity**
Carter regards blockchain-based identity as having a bright future. She projects that by 2026, blockchain domains will be used alongside traditional DNS systems. Still, challenges abound. “We have to keep training the market,” she remarked. Many people are still reluctant to migrate to Web3 due to concerns about technological complexity. But Carter believes that change is just a matter of time, given the right approach.
Carter, now more than ever, still harbors the same enthusiasm as she did when she first fell in love with computers. She wants to be part of the change as well as ensure it goes in the right direction. “We’re building something that’s going to last,” she remarks, “and that’s the most challenging and the most exciting thing.”
For Sandy Carter, technology is not only about creativity but also about how that creativity may improve quality of life. And she doesn’t appear to be stopping very soon.