NADIA CARTA
Contributor to You’re On Mute: 13 Lessons for Women Frustrated with the Tech SectorÂ
About Nadia
Nadia’s life journey is a testament to resilience and passion. She is more than a leader — she is a catalyst for transformative growth. Her magnetic energy, zeal for life, and unwavering commitment to uplifting others make her an invaluable asset to any stage or conversation.
Born and raised on the island of Sardinia, Italy, Nadia studied computer programming before earning her master’s in Marketing, Brand Strategy, and Management at IULM in Milan. Scholarships propelled her to the top of her class and into an international career. Fluent in four languages, she joined Google in 2009 and has since become a leader in commercialization, AI, data, and tech services across EMEA and AMER. Recognized as Google’s AI Evangelist, she has also spearheaded global D&I initiatives and sponsored underrepresented talent.
Nadia is also an ICF-certified executive coach and founder of Spark Your Zeal®, a movement dedicated to igniting personal and professional transformation. As a TEDx speaker, producer and host of the 99 Humans podcast, and mentor to over 500 leaders, she embodies the belief that zeal is not just energy — it’s a revolution.
She lives in Manhattan with her life partner Fabio and their daughters, Lavinia and Olimpia.
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CONNECT WITHÂ NADIA
Nadia's Chapter:
The Unseen Fuel: Zeal, Sponsorship, and Self-Belief
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Nadia’s chapter explores the concept of zeal — not just as enthusiasm, but as a sacred fuel that powers transformation. She shares her journey from growing up in a strict, small-town environment in Sardinia to rising as a global leader at Google. Along the way, she redefines what sponsorship looks like, illustrating how unexpected allies — like a gruff “Steel-Eyed Man” manager — opened doors she never imagined.
Her story also confronts moments of heartbreak and loss which extinguished her spark until others held the flame for her. Through these experiences, Nadia shows how zeal can flicker, fade, and be rekindled through community, courage, and resilience. Ultimately, she calls on readers to build their own “Board of Zeal” — allies and sponsors who remind them of their strength when they forget it themselves.
Her chapter is a reminder that zeal is more than energy. It’s a beacon. It multiplies when shared, rewrites endings, and carries us home to where we belong.
“Zeal is not born in comfort. It’s born in the friction — the ache between where you are and where your soul knows it’s meant to go.”
—Nadia Carta, You’re On Mute
About the Book:
You’re On Mute: 13 Lessons for Women Frustrated with the Tech Sector
You’re On Mute: 13 Lessons for Women Frustrated with the Tech Sector is a bold anthology by women in tech, sharing unapologetic stories of resilience, exclusion, and transformation. From global leaders to grassroots innovators, these chapters are lessons and rallying cries that challenge the systems holding us back and imagine a more inclusive future. In a moment where AI is reshaping everything, this book reminds us that real change won’t come from technology alone, but from community, care, and collective action.
Listen to Nadia's Episode:
How to Spark Your Zeal
Marie Wiese is joined by Nadia Carta, Head of Data Transformation at Google and the founder of Spark Your Zeal. Tune in to hear Marie and Nadia discuss, the power of coaching and being coached, being a TedX speaker, and how to spark your zeal.
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