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’s presentation on creativity was engaging, inspiring, and practical! Her framework and practical suggestions for creativity were incredibly valuable.”
“Natalie’s presentation on creativity was engaging, inspiring, and practical! Her framework and practical suggestions for creativity were incredibly valuable.”