Fast Company has published a conversation with creativity strategist Natalie Nixon, PhD, who declares the dawn of the 'Imagination Era' — a time when human creativity, curiosity, and new ways of thinking eclipse traditional operational efficiency. Nixon, founder of Figure 8 Thinking and creator of the WonderRigor™ method, argues that leaders must treat AI as a creative partner, not a replacement for human cognition.
Drawing from the upcoming second edition of her book, 'The Creativity Leap,' Nixon outlines how 'wonder' can serve as a strategic advantage in organizations. She provides practical frameworks for executives navigating the future of work, urging them to unlock creativity at every organizational level rather than defaulting to automation.
Nixon's thesis arrives as many corporations rush to deploy AI for cost-cutting, often sidelining human intuition and exploratory thinking. Her perspective counters the prevailing narrative that AI will primarily replace roles; instead, she posits that the most valuable human skill will be the ability to ask novel questions and imagine new possibilities.
For leaders, this signals a shift from efficiency-driven management to innovation-driven cultures. Nixon's approach suggests that in an AI-saturated economy, competitive advantage will come from fostering human creativity rather than merely adopting more sophisticated algorithms.
Nixon holds a PhD and has built a career bridging design thinking and business strategy. Her WonderRigor method combines open-ended curiosity with disciplined execution, offering a concrete tool for leaders seeking to implement her ideas.