Early Life
Melanie Perkins was born in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia. Her mother was an Australian-born teacher, and her father was a Malaysian engineer with Filipino and Sri Lankan heritage. From a young age, Perkins demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit, starting her first business at 14, selling handmade scarves at local markets. She was also passionate about figure skating.
Rise to Success
Perkins attended Sacred Heart College and later the University of Western Australia, where she studied communications, psychology, and commerce. During her studies, she tutored students in graphic design and recognized the difficulties they faced using complex design software. This observation led her to co-found Fusion Books in 2007 with Cliff Obrecht, a platform enabling students to design yearbooks. Fusion Books became Australia's largest yearbook publisher.
In 2013, Perkins, along with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams, launched Canva, a user-friendly, online graphic design platform. The platform quickly gained traction, reaching a $1 billion valuation within five years. Canva's success made Perkins one of the youngest female tech unicorn founders. The company has since grown to serve over 220 million monthly active users.
Key Business Strategies
Canva's success can be attributed to several key strategies. Its user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface made design accessible to everyone, removing the need for professional training. Perkins and her team focused on solving a real problem simply, reimagining access to design. The company also emphasized a culture of inclusivity and empowerment, with a focus on employee well-being. Canva has also expanded its offerings through strategic acquisitions, such as Pixabay, Pexels, and Serif.
Philanthropy
Perkins and Obrecht are committed to philanthropy and have pledged to donate at least half of their fortune to charitable causes through the Giving Pledge.