Early Life
Melanie Perkins, born in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia, is a prominent technology entrepreneur known for co-founding Canva, a transformative graphic design platform. Raised by an Australian-born teacher and a Malaysian engineer with Filipino and Sri Lankan roots, Perkins grew up with a diverse cultural background that shaped her worldview. Her early aspirations were rooted in figure skating, where she exhibited remarkable discipline by training at 4:30 am daily. At fourteen, Perkins launched her first business, selling handmade scarves, a venture she credits with igniting her entrepreneurial spirit.
Perkins attended Sacred Heart College in Sorrento and later enrolled at The University of Western Australia, majoring in communications, psychology, and commerce. During her university years, she worked as a private tutor for graphic design students and recognized the complexities students faced with design software. This realization set the stage for her future endeavors. At nineteen, Perkins dropped out of university to pursue a business idea with her partner, Cliff Obrecht.
Career Beginnings
In 2007, Perkins and Obrecht founded Fusion Books, a company that streamlined the yearbook creation process for schools using a user-friendly drag-and-drop tool. Fusion Books, started from Perkins’s mother’s living room, became the largest yearbook provider in Australia and expanded to France and New Zealand. This early success provided valuable insights into the potential for simplified design solutions.
Founding Canva
The idea for Canva took shape as Perkins and Obrecht aimed to revolutionize design by making it accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Despite facing rejection from over 100 investors in Perth, their persistence led them to Silicon Valley, where they met influential figures like Bill Tai and Lars Rasmussen. Rasmussen’s advice to find a skilled tech team led Perkins and Obrecht to Cameron Adams, a former Google employee who became Canva’s third co-founder and chief product officer.
Canva was officially launched in 2013. Perkins, at just 26 years old, became the CEO of the startup, which quickly grew into a highly successful venture. Canva’s growth was accelerated by its easy-to-use design platform that democratized access to high-quality design tools. As of 2023, Canva is valued at $25 billion, solidifying its status as one of the most successful tech start-ups globally.
Achievements and Recognition
Under Perkins’s leadership, Canva has become a global leader in design technology, with over 100 million active users across 190 countries. The company has been lauded for its innovative approach, winning awards such as “Overall Design Collaboration Company of the Year” at the 2021 RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards and ranking high on Forbes and CNBC lists of influential companies.
In 2023, Perkins ranked 89th on Forbes’ “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” and 92nd on Fortune’s list of Most Powerful Women. She was also named one of Forbes’ “Top Under 30 of the Decade” in 2020 and appeared on The Australian Financial Review Rich List with a net worth of A$13.18 billion.
Advocacy and Philanthropy
Perkins is a strong advocate for gender equality in the tech industry. As one of the few female CEOs of a venture-backed company, she has implemented policies at Canva to ensure gender diversity, achieving 41% female representation. Her commitment to philanthropy is evident from her and Obrecht’s pledge to donate at least half of their fortune through the Giving Pledge. The couple’s engagement and marriage, marked by a modest ring and a wedding on Rottnest Island, reflect their values of simplicity and generosity.
Personal Life
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Perkins is passionate about kite surfing, a hobby she shares with venture capitalist Bill Tai. She has traveled extensively, with a notable trip to India having a profound impact on her perspective. Perkins’s personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined, reflecting her commitment to both her career and her values.
Legacy and Impact
Melanie Perkins’s journey from a young entrepreneur in Perth to the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company is a testament to her vision, resilience, and innovation. Canva’s success has not only transformed the design industry but also set a new standard for accessible and user-friendly technology. Perkins’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, demonstrating that with determination and creativity, significant challenges can be overcome to achieve remarkable success.
