In short: Robert Nikic is pronounced NICK-itch. Two syllables, stress on the first. As Brad Lea put it on Dropping Bombs: "Nick, and you got an itch." It's spelled N-I-K-I-C.
▶ Watch: Watch: Brad Lea on how to pronounce Robert Nikic
I've heard my last name said a dozen different ways. Nick-ick. Nye-kick. Nik-eye-see. I don't mind. Most people are trying, and that's more than fair. But if you've landed here because you're about to introduce me on a stage, a podcast or a call, here's the short version, and the story behind it.
How do you pronounce Robert Nikic?
ROB-ert NICK-itch.
| Part | Say it like | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ni- | "nick" | Short "i," as in nickel |
| -kic | "itch" | The final "c" is a soft "ch," as in itch or catch |
| Stress | First syllable | NICK-itch, not nick-ITCH |
When Brad Lea introduced me on his show, he said it three times before we started, just to be sure: "Nick-itch, Nick-itch, Nick-itch." Then he gave his audience the trick I now hear people repeat back to me: Nick, and you got an itch. If you remember that, you'll never get it wrong.
Why does the "c" sound like "ch"?
In the Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian Latin alphabets, my surname is properly written Nikić, with an accent over the final letter. That letter, ć, is a soft "ch" sound, a little lighter than the English "ch" in church (Wikipedia: Ć).
English keyboards don't have it, so on passports, websites and most documents it becomes a plain "c." The spelling changed. The sound didn't.
What does the name Nikić mean?
The -ić ending is one of the most common surname endings in the former Yugoslavia. It historically works like "son of" or "little" (Wikipedia: -ić). Names built on Nik- are usually linked to the given name Nikola, the local form of Nicholas. So, roughly, the family of Nikola.
I like knowing that. My family is from the Balkans, the region of the former Yugoslavia that includes Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro. The name carries that history wherever I go, even when people can't quite say it.
Common misspellings of Robert Nikic
If you searched for any of these, you found the right person:
- Robert Nikić
- Robert Nikich
- Robert Nickic
- Robert Nikick
- Robert Nicic
My handle is the plain spelling, robertnikic, on nearly every platform. That's how most people find me.
Why don't you have an accent?
People ask me this almost as often as they ask how to say my name. Mario Lopez asked it on air. The answer is simple. I was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and spoke German first. When my family came to the United States, I learned English the way kids do, completely, and the German faded. I became the person in my family who handled English for everyone else. I wrote more about that in Where I'm From, and Why I Don't Have an Accent.
Who is Robert Nikic?
I'm an entrepreneur, a TEDx speaker and an advisor on innovation and economic growth to an international council working on the UN's SDG 8 & 9. I founded and led a company from 2011 to 2026, then stepped away from operating roles to focus on one thing: making it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start a business and grow it.
In practice, that means working on what I call the rails of a business: getting paid faster, fairer access to credit and products, cheaper ways to sell across borders and simpler rules for registering a company. You can read the full picture on my SDG 8 & 9 page and in my biography.
Where can you find Robert Nikic online?
| Platform | Handle |
|---|---|
| linkedin.com/in/robertnikic | |
| X | @robertnikic |
| @robertnikic | |
| YouTube | @robertnikic |
| TikTok | @nikicrobert |
| Website | robertnikic.com |
A note for hosts and event organizers
If you're introducing me, here's the line I'd use: "Robert Nikic, that's NICK-itch, is an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and advisor on small-business growth." It's short, it's accurate, and it saves you from the moment every host dreads. If you'd like a longer introduction or a headshot, the press page has both.
FAQ: Robert Nikic pronunciation
How do you say Robert Nikic?
ROB-ert NICK-itch, with the stress on NICK.
Is it pronounced "Nick-ick"?
No. The ending is "itch," not "ick."
What nationality is the name Nikic?
It's a South Slavic surname common in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
How is Nikic spelled in its original form?
Nikić, with an accent on the final "c" (ć).
What does Robert Nikic do?
He's an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and advisor on innovation and economic growth to an international council working on the UN's SDG 8 & 9.
NICK-itch. Now you'll never get it wrong.
Related reading: My First Company at 13 · Why I Chose Tampa · Biography
