Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of the online graphic design tool Canva, has a two-pronged plan for success. First, build one of the world’s most valuable companies. Next, do as much good in the world as possible.
Headquartered in Sydney, thousands of miles away from Silicon Valley, with its reputation as a global arbiter of innovation, Perkins has built a design platform that easily rivals those offered by giants like Adobe and Microsoft, all while keeping accessibility at the heart of its mission.
After launching in 2013, Canva has grown to offer services in over 100 languages, with 125 million users in 190 countries. The company operates on a “freemium” subscription model that includes basic features at no cost, with the option to pay for upgrades.
Perkins believes the most salient examples of the company’s impact are in how it’s changed everyday lives—from refugees using the platform to design résumés as they job hunt in a new country, to a woman creating a flyer that helped her track down her birth mother.
In December 2022 Melanie Perkins delivered the opening keynote at Sunrise Australia with a call to arms for anyone with an idea wondering how to make it a reality.
She explains her 3 most important ideas for starting her endeavor in creating her Graphic Design tool.
- The importance of dreaming – an optimistic look at a more friendly, more effective, kinder, and more equality in world
- Turning dreams into mission and executable goals
- Clearly defining the company’s values to guide decisions
She also explains and gives examples of the company values, set in collaboration with the team, founders, and stakeholders:
- Be a force for good
- Pursue excellence
- Make complex things simple
- Empowering others
- Set crazy goals and make them happen
- Be good humans
Read more on the TIME here and watch the kenote + an interview in the video below.