Early Life
Melanie Perkins was born in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia. Her mother was an Australian-born teacher and her father a Malaysian engineer with Filipino and Sri Lankan heritage. She attended Sacred Heart College and displayed an early interest in business, starting her first business at age 14, selling handmade scarves. While at the University of Western Australia, she studied Communications, Psychology, and Commerce.
Rise to Success
Perkins co-founded Fusion Books in 2007, an online platform for designing yearbooks. This experience highlighted the need for more accessible design tools, leading to the idea for Canva. Canva was launched in 2013 with co-founders Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams, with the mission to empower everyone to design anything. Her vision was to make graphic design simple and accessible to all.
Key Business Strategies
Canva's success stems from its user-friendly interface, extensive template library, and focus on making design accessible to non-designers. The platform's freemium model, combined with continuous innovation and expansion of features, has driven significant user growth and revenue. Moreover, Perkins and Obrecht have pledged to donate most of their wealth to the Canva Foundation, supporting charitable causes.
Philanthropy
Perkins, along with her husband, has committed to donating the vast majority of their wealth. In 2021, they joined the Giving Pledge. Canva has partnered with GiveDirectly, donating millions to support families in extreme poverty. They also ensure educational institutions and nonprofits receive free Canva subscriptions.