Co-Founder & CEO of Canva · Entrepreneur · Technology & Creativity Leader
Melanie Perkins is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canva, the global visual communication and creativity platform she built with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams.
Perkins began developing her entrepreneurial vision while teaching graphic design and observing how difficult traditional design software was for beginners. She first co-founded Fusion Books, an online platform for creating school yearbooks, before expanding the idea into a broader platform that would make design accessible to anyone.
After more than 100 investor rejections, Perkins and her co-founders launched Canva in 2013. The company grew from a startup focused on simplifying graphic design into a global technology platform used by hundreds of millions of people across more than 190 countries.
Under Perkins' leadership, Canva has expanded beyond graphic design into visual communication, collaboration, presentations, productivity and AI-powered creative tools. Canva's current strategy increasingly focuses on integrating AI into the creative process while making sophisticated technology accessible to a broader audience.
Perkins speaks extensively about entrepreneurship, building enduring companies, innovation, creativity, leadership, product development and the future of work. Her experience offers a practical perspective on turning a long-term vision into a globally scaled technology company.