Natalie Nixon is a creativity strategist and CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, helping teams at Microsoft, Cooley, META, Salesforce, and beyond unlock their creative capacity and lead with imagination to identify what’s possible and essential. She democratizes creativity—showing that while artists are masters at navigating ambiguity, creativity is equally inherent to the work of engineers,...
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Natalie Nixon is a creativity strategist and CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, helping teams at Microsoft, Cooley, META, Salesforce, and beyond unlock their creative capacity and lead with imagination to identify what’s possible and essential.
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 ready to think differently and shape the future.
Natalie’s unconventional path began with cultural anthropology and dance, experiences that showed her early on that wonder and rigor aren’t opposites—they’re partners in progress. She 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.
Her lifelong passions—from modern, ballroom, and hip-hop dance to open-water swimming—continue to fuel her insights into leadership, adaptability, and innovation. With over 25 years of experience across business, design, and research, Natalie shows teams how creativity drives ROI, sparks innovation, and transforms reactive cultures into resilient ones.
Today, Natalie is recognized among the top keynote speakers by Real Leaders, named to the Thinkers50 Radar List, and honored by Core77 as a leader in women-driven innovation. She is the award-winning author of The Creativity Leap and the forthcoming Move. Think. Rest.
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Natatlie Nixon, PhD in Media
Speaker Programs
MOVE. THINK. REST. - Building Regenerative Teams for The Future of Work
What if your organization’s greatest competitive advantage wasn’t grinding harder, but thinking deeper? Burnout is not inevitable—it’s a design choice. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, reveals how movement, strategic thinking, and intentional rest activate your ...more
What if your organization’s greatest competitive advantage wasn’t grinding harder, but thinking deeper? Burnout is not inevitable—it’s a design choice. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, reveals how movement, strategic thinking, and intentional rest activate your team’s creative capacity for consistent innovation. Learn to embed regenerative rhythms into your culture, build momentum with meaning, and achieve extraordinary business results without sacrificing wellbeing. ...less
THE NEW I IN AI - Imagination, Inquiry and Intuition
Worried about how you’ll find your edge in Al? At its BEST, Al enhances human qualities at work. Natalie Nixon, a renowned creativity strategist, advocates for leveraging curiosity, imagination, and intuition to navigate this evolving ...more
Worried about how you’ll find your edge in Al? At its BEST, Al enhances human qualities at work. Natalie Nixon, a renowned creativity strategist, advocates for leveraging curiosity, imagination, and intuition to navigate this evolving landscape. Her keynote offers practical insights to redesign work and thrive in the changing paradigm. ...less
L.E.A.P: Boosting Productivity and Navigating Uncertainty
L.E.A.P: BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY AND NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY When ambiguity arises, you can either flee, pause, or charge ahead blindly. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, presents the L.E.A.P MethodTM, a straightforward approach to confront uncertainty. By Leveraging, ...more
L.E.A.P: BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY AND NAVIGATING UNCERTAINTY
When ambiguity arises, you can either flee, pause, or charge ahead blindly. Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist, presents the L.E.A.P MethodTM, a straightforward approach to confront uncertainty. By Leveraging, Envisioning, Asking, and Prototyping, attendees gain clarity and actionable strategies to move forward. Remember, progress only happens in one direction: forward! ...less
ADAPT AND DISRUPT - Build Creativity’s Business ROI in The Imagination Era
In the age of AI dominance, creativity is not optional—it’s essential. Natalie Nixon, a creativity expert, reveals how imagination drives business success. Learn from pioneering leaders, adopt dynamic methods, and unleash creativity to secure your ...more
In the age of AI dominance, creativity is not optional—it’s essential. Natalie Nixon, a creativity expert, reveals how imagination drives business success. Learn from pioneering leaders, adopt dynamic methods, and unleash creativity to secure your organization’s strategic edge. Embrace innovation, wield imagination, and thrive in disruption. ...less
Books
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