Natalie Nixon Keynote Speaker

CEO, Figure 8 Thinking
Author, The Creativity Leap
Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2024

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Natalie Nixon's Biography

Natalie Nixon, PhD, is a creativity strategist and the president of Figure 8 Thinking, where she is known as the “creativity whisperer to the C-Suite.” She is a sought-after global keynote speaker, recognized for her expertise in creativity, the future of work, and innovation. She has spoken at prestigious events such as TEDxPhiladelphia, Cusp Conference, and the European Innovation Academy.

Natalie’s thought leadership has earned her a spot in the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2024 and Real Leaders’ “Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World for 2022.” She is the author of the award-winning book The Creativity Leap, and her insights have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and INC. Her firm, Figure 8 Thinking, was named one of the top 20 women-led innovation firms by Core 77.

A hybrid thinker, Natalie blends her background in cultural anthropology, design thinking, fashion, and dance to navigate the intersection of commercial value and stakeholder equity. She has advised clients like Microsoft, Salesforce, Comcast, Citrix, VaynerMedia, and Bloomberg.

Natalie holds a BA from Vassar College and a PhD in design management. She is a trustee of the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and an early-stage investor in social impact ventures. Fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, she has lived in several countries, including Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Israel. When not advising clients, Natalie enjoys dancing hip-hop, salsa, and tango. She resides in Philadelphia with her husband, John Nixon, and is a proud stepmother to Sydney.

The New I in AI: Imagination, Inquiry and Intuition

Worried about how you’ll find your edge in AI? At its BEST, AI 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.

AI is Your Co-Creator

Just as we have IQ and EQ, we also have a CQ- or a creativity quotient. This talk explores the links between creativity and leadership and how leaders with a high CQ behave, interact with stakeholders, and co-create a strategic vision.

L.E.A.P! : The Extraordinary Method for 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 Method™, 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!

Adapt & 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 organization’s strategic edge. Embrace innovation, wield imagination, and thrive in disruption.

Curiosity is the Currency of the Future: Building a Culture of Inquiry

Do you know how to ask really, great, provocative questions? That matters not just for the increasingly basic ways we interact with AI technologies like ChatGPT, but also for executing on a compelling strategy. Natalie Nixon emphasizes the significance of questions in driving innovation and fostering dynamic cultures. Learn various question types, how to ask them effectively, and normalize a culture of inquiry.

The Future of Work is Jazz: Applying Improvisation, Collaboration and Foresight

Embrace business improvisation for success. Join creativity strategist Natalie Nixon for a keynote that envisions work as a jazz ensemble—dynamic and harmonious. Discover the parallels between jazz improvisation and agile collaboration, fostering innovation and team synergy. Gain strategic foresight tools for proactive planning. Let’s orchestrate a unified business future!

An Introduction to Natalie Nixon

Articles, Media & Podcasts

A new way to think about work for 2024

Fast Company

This is the AI we didn’t see coming: artificial imagination

Fast Company

Your “invisible work” is key to your most productive self

Fast Company

Books by Natalie Nixon

The Creativity Leap

Comments & Testimonials

As expected, Dr. Nixon’s presentation was one of the best at the university this year. A very thought provoking and inspiring kick-off to the Jefferson Creativity Core Curriculum.

Matt Baker, Provost Thomas Jefferson University

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

Andrea Leszek, Evp & COO Of Technology Salesforce

"Natalie is amazing! Her energy is absolutely infectious! She helped our team think differently about how to unlock creative energy in our team and organization. Her 3is framework resonates in a practical way, giving leaders straightforward suggestions on how to build their creativity competence and foster a culture of inquiry.."

Barry Ridgway, Vp Of American Enterprise Services Microsoft

"We are always looking for a rockstar keynote speaker to inspire and inform…Dr. Natalie Nixon had us all on the edge of our seats for her entire presentation! …My attendees absolutely loved her work across a multidisciplinary set of insights and anecdotes…punctuated with references to both her research and to hyper-relevant themes."

Nigel Prentice, Global Head Of Accessibility IBM

"Natalie delivered an incredibly uplifting and thought provoking keynote to our design team. We were blown away by how clearly she explained the value of design!"

Adam Weir, Director Of Design New Balance