The woman behind Canva shares how she built a $42B company from nothing | Melanie Perkins

Overview

Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, shares her journey of building a $42 billion design platform from scratch. She discusses her unique approach to entrepreneurship, including her column B thinking, the importance of setting crazy big goals, overcoming investor rejections, and navigating challenges like a two-year period without shipping new features. Melanie also delves into Canva's philanthropic two-step plan and her ambitious vision for a better world by 2050.

Notable Quotes

- The thing that I love about a crazy big goal is that you feel completely inadequate before it. You want to work really hard to will it into existence. — Melanie Perkins, on the power of ambitious goals.

- Everything good was once imagined. — Melanie Perkins, on the importance of imagination in creating a better future.

- Rejection in some ways makes you stronger if you can persist through. — Melanie Perkins, on how investor feedback shaped Canva's success.

🌟 Column B Thinking: Building Toward a Dream Future

- Melanie Perkins introduced the concept of column B thinking, which involves envisioning an ideal future and working backward to make it a reality, rather than being constrained by current resources or limitations.

- She emphasized the importance of imagining the world you want to live in and taking small, incremental steps to achieve that vision.

- This approach was foundational to Canva's success, as Melanie started with a bold vision of simplifying design and making it accessible to everyone globally.

🚀 The Power of Crazy Big Goals

- Canva's mission to empower the world to design was a crazy big goal from the start, aiming to simplify design and make it accessible to everyone, everywhere.

- Melanie Perkins shared how breaking down ambitious goals into smaller, actionable steps allowed Canva to achieve milestones like expanding to 100+ languages, launching cross-platform features, and creating tools for diverse design needs.

- Celebrating achievements, such as smashing plates and releasing doves, helped keep the team motivated and focused on their long-term vision.

💡 Overcoming Rejection and Iterating on the Pitch

- Melanie faced over 100 investor rejections while fundraising for Canva. Instead of giving up, she used their feedback to refine her pitch deck, addressing concerns about market size, competition, and the problem Canva was solving.

- She emphasized the importance of persistence, iterating on feedback, and finding investors who align with your vision.

- Despite initial skepticism, Canva's pitch deck from 2012 still reflects the company's core mission today, showcasing the strength of her original vision.

🌍 Canva’s Two-Step Plan and Philanthropy

- Canva operates on a two-step plan: Step 1 is to build one of the world's most valuable companies, and Step 2 is to do the most good possible.

- The company has pledged 30% of its equity to philanthropic efforts, including donating $50 million to GiveDirectly and committing another $100 million to help people in extreme poverty.

- Canva also provides free access to its paid product for nonprofits and schools, giving away $1.5 billion worth of products annually.

🧠 Vision for 2050 and the Role of Imagination

- Melanie Perkins shared her personal 2050 vision board, which outlines her dream for a world where basic human needs are met, education is a universal right, and communities thrive.

- She believes imagination is the first step toward creating a better future, emphasizing the importance of dreaming big and taking small steps to achieve those dreams.

- Melanie encourages individuals and companies to actively contribute to shaping the world they want to live in, rather than passively accepting the status quo.