Dream Crazy Big

The Unlikely Story of Canva

Canva creator Melanie Perkins and her partner Cliff Obrecht wrote their own playbook. Here’s the story of what we should all hope the next generation of business will look like: how they did it, why they did it, and why it worked.

“I hope this story can inspire others to dream big, set goals, and make them happen.” – Melanie Perkins, Canva CEO and co-founder

Born out of simple frustration with complex design tools, Canva has grown into a wild success, with a massive, devoted user community of more than 200 million people, in 190 countries and using 100 languages. But this isn’t a traditional startup story of guys in a garage following a Silicon Valley playbook. Instead, from their base in Perth, Australia (the most remote big city on earth), and animated by a drive to empower normal people to use design to make their own dreams a reality, Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht created something truly original.

While backpacking through India, a teenaged Melanie Perkins decided to devote her life to empowering others. Teaching design software to university students revealed to her how: by giving them easy access to the tools that enable visual communication.

Frustrated by complex, expensive design programs, she envisioned a world where anyone could bring their ideas to life. With Cliff Obrecht, she launched a yearbook business from her mother's living room - the first step toward revolutionizing global design.

Through intimate access to Perkins and her inner circle, author Rebekah Campbell reveals the unconventional strategies that helped Canva outmaneuver tech giants. From hiring their first remote designer in Manila to building their platform from scratch, this narrative illuminates how unwavering focus on empowering others drove every decision - even when conventional wisdom suggested otherwise.

This isn't just another startup success story. It's a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, showing how clear values and relentless dedication to serving others can build extraordinary companies. For anyone who dreams of creating meaningful change, Perkins' journey offers powerful lessons about thinking bigger than seems possible and staying true to your vision against all odds.

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