Natalie has a PhD in International Studies, with a focus on social-political and conflict studies in the U.K. She also received a Master's in Cultural Studies from Ghent University, as well as a Journalism degree. Between studies, she mostly worked in non-profit organisations as a policy or advocacy worker.

During her PhD research, Natalie felt the urge to do something practical and decided to combine her educational background with her interest and passion for sustainable tourism. She then founded a small-scale tourism enterprise in Lima, Peru where she was living at the time. She has also been a core team member and researcher for the California-based organization Ethical Traveler for almost a decade. After living in different places around the world, she returned to her hometown of Ghent in early 2018 and started guiding visitors through Ghent and other Belgian cities.