Natalie M. Dunbar
Natalie Marie Dunbar is the founder and CEO of The Content Practice Architect, a consultancy focused on helping brands establish sustainable content practices.
Her book, From Solo to Scaled: Building a Sustainable Content Strategy Practice, provides practical advice on scaling content operations and is a valuable resource for professionals in the field.
Presentations
Leadership By Design 2026
The Business of Boundaries: Maintaining a Healthy and Sustainable UX Practice
We talk about boundaries like they’re walls — keep people out, say no, protect your time. There’s a more useful way to think about it, borrowed from architecture: the purpose of a boundary isn’t primarily to block access. It’s to define what happens within a space.
That reframe changes how you build and lead a practice. A boundary isn’t a barrier; it’s a definition. It says, “this is the space where the work gets done well.” In a field where layoffs are relentless, and burnout is treated as a rite of passage, knowing what you need to protect on the inside isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of a sustainable practice and a sustainable career.
The very act of establishing a practice creates boundaries within which the work gets done, which means you’re constantly called on to help cross-functional partners understand where those boundaries sit. This talk covers what it takes to define them well: modeling intentional self-care, using vulnerability and active listening to build trust, and getting comfortable being the bottleneck rather than the burnout. It also makes the case for inclusion — that boundaries hold better when the people around you helped build them, not just when you enforce them alone.
This talk draws on Natalie’s experience building a content strategy practice, but the principles apply to any UX discipline shaped by constant demands and the pressure to say yes.
Tent Talks Session: Health, Wellness, and Self-Care: Maintaining a Strong UX Practice Core
On Tuesday, July 18th 5:00pm Central, Natalie M. Dunbar joins us for a live Q&A session: “Health, Wellness, and Self-Care: Maintaining a Strong UX Practice Core.”
Leadership By Design 2022
Yoga & User Experience: What Accessible Yoga Can Teach Us About Creating Inclusive Spaces
The goal of yoga accessibility is to create physical practice spaces and experiences that are safe, diverse, equitable, and inclusive for all. But for some, such as those in larger or differently abled bodies, or those in marginalized communities, access to the foundational practices of yoga—breathwork, meditation, and asana—remains out of reach.
And so it is with digital spaces.
The work we do in digital information spaces is key to bringing digital experiences to life. How might we apply lessons learned from yoga accessibility to create safe digital spaces that are open to a diverse population, and that are equitable and inclusive for all?
In this session, we will cover:
- Holding space: Refocus your listening to identify and become present with a diverse user base.
- Inquiry: Ask three simple questions to help zero in on user needs, and to facilitate information wayfinding.
- Sequencing: Use structure and flow to build engaging experiences.
- Variations: Learn how modifications and variations invite belonging and prevent “othering.”
- Non-attachment: Release preconceived notions, prejudgement, and biases to move beyond diversity to normalization.
This talk will appeal to UX practitioners seeking creative ways to incorporate accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion in a unique and relatable way.
