Lisa Henderson-Carter is the founder of Lisa Carter Speaks, LLC, and author of Behind the Smile: How Pain Prepared Me for My Purpose. With more than 25 years of experience working with youth, families, and communities, she encourages people to recognize the value in their stories and give attention to what matters most.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Lisa entered foster care at 12 and became a mother at 13. Her mother passed away just one month before her son was born. As a young mother, Lisa received support from several community programs, including Boston Medical Center’s Teen and Tot Program. These resources helped her care for her son and continue her education while navigating the many challenges of growing up in the inner city. Years later, she returned to Teen and Tot as a case manager, helping other young parents connect with the kind of support she had once received.

As a keynote speaker, Lisa brings honesty, humor, and encouragement to the room, sharing her story in ways that invite people to reflect on their own. She also leads workshops and smaller gatherings where people can reconnect with what matters and explore their dreams.
Through her work with CLT-Rising and Synergy Emerge, she provides mentorship and one-to-one coaching support to women. Whether someone is caring for a family, considering a new direction, or serving a community, Lisa offers guidance and encouragement grounded in both personal and professional experience. Her message is simple: we can honor what we’ve lived through and still make room for hope, joy, and the lives we want to create.