Meet Natalie
NATALIE NIXON, PhD, IS AN IDEAS ARTIST.
She democratizes creativity—showing that while artists are masters at navigating ambiguity, creativity is equally inherent to the work of engineers, scientists, lawyers, and project managers who are ready to think differently, lead with intention, and shape the future.
Natalie built her career by connecting dots others didn’t see — working in global apparel sourcing for The Limited Brands in Sri Lanka and Portugal, earning a PhD in design management while working full time, leading executive education programs, and spending 16 years as a professor at Thomas Jefferson University. Her experience living and working across five countries shaped her global perspective and sharpened her approach to helping teams adapt, innovate, and thrive in ambiguity.
Years ago, Natalie sat at her kitchen table, weighing a leap of faith. After years in academia, she realized she was ready for something more audacious. She created her own path — becoming a creativity strategist before the role even had a name. It was her first real test of WonderRigor™: balancing audacity with discipline to reimagine her future.
Natalie’s lifelong passions, from modern, ballroom, and hip-hop dance to open-water swimming, continue to fuel her insights into leadership, adaptability, and innovation.
Today, Natalie is recognized among the top keynote speakers by BigSpeak and Real Leaders, named to the Thinkers50 Radar List, and honored by Core77 as a leader in women-driven innovation. She’s the award-winning author of The Creativity Leap and the forthcoming Move. Think. Rest.
NATALIE NIXON, PhD, IS AN IDEAS ARTIST.
She democratizes creativity—showing that while artists are masters at navigating ambiguity, creativity is equally inherent to the work of engineers, scientists, lawyers, and project managers who are ready to think differently, lead with intention, and shape the future.
Natalie built her career by connecting dots others didn’t see — working in global apparel sourcing for The Limited Brands in Sri Lanka and Portugal, earning a PhD in design management while working full time, leading executive education programs, and spending 16 years as a professor at Thomas Jefferson University. Her experience living and working across five countries shaped her global perspective and sharpened her approach to helping teams adapt, innovate, and thrive in ambiguity.
Years ago, Natalie sat at her kitchen table, weighing a leap of faith. After years in academia, she realized she was ready for something more audacious. She created her own path — becoming a creativity strategist before the role even had a name. It was her first real test of WonderRigor™: balancing audacity with discipline to reimagine her future.
Natalie’s lifelong passions, from modern, ballroom, and hip-hop dance to open-water swimming, continue to fuel her insights into leadership, adaptability, and innovation.
Today, Natalie is recognized among the top keynote speakers by BigSpeak and Real Leaders, named to the Thinkers50 Radar List, and honored by Core77 as a leader in women-driven innovation. She’s the award-winning author of The Creativity Leap and the forthcoming Move. Think. Rest.
PICK MY BRAIN
Gain perspective and receive immediate, practical advice
You can do so much in a 90-minute, personalized advisory session. If you’re asking yourself the following questions then a Pick My Brain session is right for you:
- How might I add value to my company?
- How do I make “the leap”?
- What should I be doing next to gain traction?
- I’m feeling stuck. What is a new way I could be looking at this challenge?
WonderRigor™ Expert | Award-Winning Author | Creativity Guru | Global Keynote Speaker
Keynotes
Natalie’s keynotes don’t just inspire — they equip leaders with tactics to unlock creativity’s ROI. Every keynote is customized to spark action, not just applause.
Courses
Natalie designs courses and learning experiences to help organizations build creativity as a strategic capability — unlocking new ways to adapt, innovate, and lead.
Through books, essays, and featured articles, Natalie blends research, storytelling and practical insights to challenge how we think about leadership, innovation, and the future of work.
The Future Belongs to the Creative
Organizations that thrive today are the ones operating at the intersection of productivity, technology, and meaningful human connection.
Creativity makes all three possible.
Creativity by the Numbers
Natalie has published works through major publications including:
Certifications
“Natalie Nixon can help you get unstuck and unlock the work you were born to do.”
Seth Godin, author of This is Marketing
Insights on Creativity, Leadership, and the Future of Work
Book Natalie Today
Gain tactical solutions to unlock your team’s creativity, drive innovation, and create lasting business impact.
