Melanie Perkins Explained

Melanie Perkins
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Perth, Western Australia[2]
Education:University of Western Australia
Occupation:Technology entrepreneur
Known For:Co-founder and CEO of Canva
Years Active:2007–present

Melanie Perkins (born 1987) is an Australian technology entrepreneur, who is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Canva (with Cliff Obrecht). She owns 18% of the company.[3]

Perkins is one of the youngest female CEOs of a tech start-up valued over 1 billion., Perkins was one of Australia's richest women.[4] [5]

In 2023, she ranked 89th in Forbes list of "World's 100 most powerful women"[6] and 92nd in Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women.[7]

Early life

Melanie Perkins was born in 1987 in Perth, Western Australia. She is the daughter of an Australian-born teacher and a Malaysian engineer of Filipino and Sri Lankan descent.[8] She attended Sacred Heart College,[9] a secondary school located in the northern Perth suburb of Sorrento. In high school, Perkins had aspirations of becoming a professional figure skater and would routinely wake up at 4:30 am to train. By the age of fourteen, she had started her first business, selling handmade scarves at shops and markets throughout Perth.[10] She credits this experience with developing her entrepreneurial drive as ‘she never forgot the freedom and excitement from building a business.’[11]

After high school, Perkins enrolled at The University of Western Australia, majoring in communications, psychology and commerce.[12] At this time, Perkins was also a private tutor for students learning graphic design. She noticed the difficulties students had in learning design programs such as Adobe Photoshop: it would often take students a semester at university to be introduced to basic features of these complex design programs.[13] Perkins thought there was a business opportunity in making the design process easier.[13] Her idea was to make a design platform where no technical experience was required. She dropped out of university at age 19 to pursue her first business with Cliff Obrecht, Fusion Books.[13]

Career

Fusion Books

Fusion Books was founded by Perkins and Obrecht in 2007.[13] Fusion Books allowed students to design their own school yearbooks by using a simple drag-and-drop tool equipped with a library of design templates that could be populated with photos, illustrations, and fonts. Originally, Perkins wanted to develop software that made the entire design process easier but due to the competition with large companies and her lack of resources, she concluded ‘it did not seem the logical thing to do’.[13] Perkins's mother was a teacher who would also co-ordinate the school yearbook.[13] Perkins saw how much time was required to design a yearbook and thought the high level of consumer friction would make yearbooks a good niche to test the idea for Canva.[13]

Started in the Duncraig living room of Perkins's mother,[13] [14] [15] Obrecht would cold call schools in an attempt to get new clients for Fusion Books. Their parents would often help with printing the yearbooks. Over five years, Fusion Books grew into the largest yearbook company in Australia and expanded into France and New Zealand.[8]

Formation of Canva

Perkins and Obrecht were originally based in Perth. Perkins claims that she was rejected by over 100 local investors in Perth.[8]

In 2011, prominent investor, Bill Tai visited Perth to judge a start-up competition. Perkins and Obrecht pitched Tai the initial idea for Canva over dinner. There were also other venture capitalists present including Rick Baker from Blackbird Ventures.[8] They received no funding but became regular fixtures at gatherings hosted by Tai for investors and start-up founders. Some of these gatherings took place in Silicon Valley where Perkins and Obrecht met Lars Rasmussen, co-founder of Google Maps.[16] He expressed interest in the idea but told the founders to ‘put everything on hold’ until they found a tech team of the calibre required.[8] Rasmussen then became the tech adviser to the business where he introduced Perkins and Obrecht to Cameron Adams, an ex-Google employee with the relevant technical expertise.[17] Adams was initially not interested in joining the business as he was starting his own business called fluent.io, software attempting to disrupt email.[13] Adams was in Silicon Valley trying to raise funds for his start-up when Perkins sent him another email asking if he wanted to join the business.[13] After that email, he agreed to join Canva, becoming its third founder and chief product officer.[16]

Perkins is the CEO of one of the few ‘unicorn’ start-ups that are profitable.[18] In Nov. 2023, Forbes estimated her net worth at $ 3.6 bln. She remained CEO of Canva, and owned around 18 % of the company.[19] She was named to the Financial Review Rich List of 2023.[20] [21]

Women in start-ups

Controversy surrounds the gender disparity in the technology industry as well as amongst start-ups,[22] with one in four start-ups founded by a woman.[23] [24] Perkins is amongst the 2 percent of female CEOs of venture-backed companies.[25] She wrote an article for people who feel like 'they are on the outside' and discussed her journey as a young entrepreneur in order to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to pursue big dreams and concentrate on their goals.[25] Perkins has implemented policies at Canva that eliminate bias in the hiring process, that has resulted in Canva obtaining 41 percent female representation, significantly higher than the industry average of 28 percent.[26]

Personal life

Perkins took an interest in kite surfing when she discovered many prominent venture capitalists use this as a way to network with founders.[8] She would regularly kite-surf with venture capitalist Bill Tai.[8] Perkins has also travelled the world extensively and credits a trip to India as a life-changing experience.[27]

In 2019, Obrecht proposed to Perkins on a holiday in Turkey's backpacker-friendly Cappadocia region.[28] The engagement ring was $30. The couple have been critical of materialism with Obrecht stating ‘what is the point of hoarding stuff’.[29] They have expressed a desire to donate most of their fortune to charity. Perkins and Obrecht married in January 2021 on Rottnest Island.[30] Later that year, they joined the Giving Pledge, committing at least half of their fortune to philanthropic purposes.[31]

Net worth

In 2020 Forbes named Perkins as one of the world's "Top Under 30 of the Decade". Perkins first appeared on The Australian Financial Review Rich List in 2020 with a net worth of 3.43 billion., The Australian Financial Review assessed her and Obrecht's joint net worth as 13.18 billion, on the 2023 Rich List; making them the ninth wealthiest Australians. As of 31 January 2022, Forbes estimated Perkins' personal net worth at A$9.21 billion (US$6.5bn).

YearFinancial Review
Rich List		Forbes
Australia's 50 Richest
RankNet worth (A$)Rank
2019[32] [33] n/anot listedn/anot listed
2020[34]
2021[35] $7.98 billion
2022[36] $13.80 billion $6.50 billion
2023[37]
Legend
Icon Description
Has not changed from the previous year
Has increased from the previous year
Has decreased from the previous year

Notes

Perkins' net worth is assessed in Financial Review Rich List as being held jointly with her spouse and business partner, Cliff Obrecht.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Melanie Perkins and Ginia Rinehart revealed as Australia's youngest billionaires at age 36. 2023-09-01. 2024-05-04. news.com.au.
  2. News: The 30-year-old woman who designed a $1bn business. BBC. 10 January 2018. Stanton. Kate. Griffith. Hywel. 16 July 2019. 28 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180728132608/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42552367. live.
  3. Web site: Profile - Melanie Perkins . Forbes . 18 July 2023 . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.forbes.com/profile/melanie-perkins/ . live .
  4. Web site: 2021-03-07. The nation's richest women revealed. Sprague. Julie-ann. Bailey. Michael. 2021-10-06. Australian Financial Review. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/the-nation-s-richest-women-revealed-20210304-p577t1. live.
  5. Web site: 2020-06-23. Canva prints a new billionaire. 2021-10-06. Australian Financial Review. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132932/https://www.afr.com/technology/canva-prints-a-new-billionaire-20200623-p55599. live.
  6. Web site: The World’s Most Powerful Women 2023 . . en.
  7. Web site: Most Powerful Women . Fortune . en.
  8. Web site: Konrad. Alex. Canva Uncovered: How A Young Australian Kitesurfer Built A $3.2 Billion (Profitable!) Startup Phenom. 2020-11-02. Forbes. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132835/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2019/12/11/inside-canva-profitable-3-billion-startup-phenom/. live.
  9. Web site: 2018-05-07. How a Sacred Heart girl built a $1b tech empire. 2020-11-02. The West Australian. en. 2 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230302124306/https://thewest.com.au/business/rich-list/wa-rich-list-2018-how-sacred-heart-graduate-melanie-perkins-built-billion-dollar-tech-empire-canva-ng-b88795945z. live.
  10. Web site: Connelly. Claire. 2015-10-06. From making scarves to building a $165 million tech start-up: Canva's Melanie Perkins. 2020-11-02. The Sydney Morning Herald. en. 21 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230721125110/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/from-making-scarves-to-building-a-165-million-startup-canvas-melanie-perkins-20151006-gk2nda.html. live.
  11. Web site: Zipkin. Nina. 2019-06-12. She Was Told 'No' 100 Times. Now This 31-Year-Old Female Founder Runs a $1 Billion Business.. 2020-11-02. Entrepreneur. en. 4 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904115201/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310482. live.
  12. Web site: 2017-11-03 . Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht . Uniview . . 2020-11-02 . en . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132922/https://www.uwa.edu.au/news . live .
  13. Web site: Perkins. Melanie. 2020-08-24. 21 Questions from Aussie Startups: Highs, lows & lessons learned during Canva's journey so far…. 2020-11-02. Medium. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132952/https://medium.com/canva/21-questions-from-aussie-startups-highs-lows-lessons-learned-during-canvas-journey-so-far-da07723ff545. live.
  14. Web site: City of Joondalup . Why some of the best business successes have started at WA's home of innovation . Business News . 13 January 2022 . 8 September 2020 . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134842/https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Why-some-of-the-best-business-successes-have-started-at-WA-s-home-of-innovation . live .
  15. Web site: Boyd . Tony . Canva follows Atlassian into the $US1 billion unicorn ranks . Australian Financial Review . 13 January 2022 . 9 January 2018 . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134909/https://www.afr.com/companies/canva-follows-atlassian-into-the-us1-billion-unicorn-ranks-20180108-h0f3l2 . live .
  16. Web site: Informit Logout. 2020-11-02. search.informit.com.au. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517133945/https://search.informit.org/action/showPublications. live.
  17. Web site: Gilchrist. Karen. 2020-01-09. How a 32-year-old turned a high school yearbook idea into a $3.2 billion business. 2020-11-02. CNBC. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134844/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/canva-how-melanie-perkins-built-a-3point2-billion-dollar-design-start-up.html. live.
  18. Web site: Kruger. Colin. 2018-09-14. Rare billion-dollar beast: Aussie tech unicorn Canva makes a profit. 2020-11-02. The Sydney Morning Herald. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134858/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/rare-billion-dollar-beast-aussie-tech-unicorn-canva-makes-a-profit-20180914-p503s3.html. live.
  19. Web site: Melanie Perkins . 2024-01-30 . Forbes . en . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.forbes.com/profile/melanie-perkins/ . live .
  20. Web site: 2023-05-25 . AFR Magazine Rich List issue 2023 . 2024-01-30 . Australian Financial Review . en . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134915/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/june-rich-list-20230519-p5d9td . live .
  21. Web site: Mediaweek . 2023-10-26 . Financial Review Young Rich List 2023 reveals green energy, retail and property as the biggest drivers of wealth . 2024-01-30 . Mediaweek . en-AU . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134915/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/financial-review-young-rich-list-2023-reveals-drivers-of-wealth/ . live .
  22. Web site: Gender gap in the tech industry . Deloitte Insights. 2020-11-02.
  23. Web site: Women in US Technology Leadership . Silicon Valley Bank. 2020-11-02. www.svb.com. en.
  24. Book: Hession, Jane. Women in the Modern Workplace: Gender Barriers to Business Start-ups. 2009. Cambridge Scholars. 978-1-4438-1385-3. en. 1 December 2020. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134105/https://books.google.com/books?id=DI4iAQAAMAAJ. live.
  25. Web site: 2018-09-24. A message for those who feel they're on the outside, from Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins. 2020-11-02. SmartCompany. en-US. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135516/https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/advice/canva-co-founder-melanie-perkins-message/. live.
  26. Web site: 2020-09-02. The Companies Making A Difference: Introducing Our Women Leading Tech Advocacy Finalists. 2020-11-02. B&T. en-US. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517134055/https://www.bandt.com.au/the-companies-making-a-difference-introducing-our-women-leading-tech-advocacy-finalists/. live.
  27. Web site: 2019-08-16. Canva's CEO on her 'crazy big goal'. 2020-11-02. Australian Financial Review. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135519/https://www.afr.com/technology/canva-s-ceo-on-her-crazy-big-goal-20190722-p529g6. live.
  28. Web site: Australia's richest 250: Melanie Perkins and the unicorn . 2020-11-02. The Australian. subscription .
  29. Web site: 2020-10-27. Meet the debutants storming up the Rich List. 2020-11-02. Australian Financial Review. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135521/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/meet-the-debutants-storming-up-the-rich-list-20201027-p568ue. live.
  30. Web site: Waters. Cara. 2021-02-22. Canva co-founder backs Facebook's move to ban news, slams 'stupid' tech regulation. live. https://archive.today/20210223025800/https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/canva-co-founder-backs-facebook-s-move-to-ban-news-slams-stupid-tech-regulation-20210222-p574nt.html. 23 February 2021. 2021-02-23. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
  31. News: Gamboa . Glenn . 2021-12-15 . Canva founders join Bill Gates' Giving Pledge to give away most of their fortune . Sydney Morning Herald . 5 May 2024 . 17 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517135521/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/canvas-founders-join-bill-gates-giving-pledge-to-give-away-half-their-fortune-20211215-p59hm1.html . live .
  32. Web site: Australia's 200 richest people revealed. The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. 30 May 2019. Bailey. Michael. 31 May 2019. 3 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190903083639/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/australia-s-10-wealthiest-people-revealed-20190529-p51sj0. live.
  33. News: 2019 Australia's 50 Richest. 28 September 2019. Forbes Asia. January 2019. 10 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610174708/http://www.forbes.com/australia-billionaires/list/#tab:overall. live.
  34. Web site: The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed. subscription. The Australian Financial Review. Nine Publishing. 30 October 2020. Bailey, Michael. Sprague, Julie-anne. 31 October 2020. 30 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030180356/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/the-10-richest-australians-revealed-20201028-p569c7. live.
  35. News: Bailey, Michael . Sprague, Julie-anne . The 200 richest people in Australia revealed . . 27 May 2021 . 28 May 2021 . 27 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210527120707/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/australia-s-10-richest-people-revealed-20210526-p57vfr . live .
  36. Web site: Melanie Perkins. 2022-01-31. Forbes. en. 17 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240517132833/https://www.forbes.com/profile/melanie-perkins/. live.
  37. News: Bailey, Michael . Sprague, Julie-anne . The 200 richest people in Australia revealed . . 26 May 2023 . 6 June 2023 . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606141432/https://www.afr.com/rich-list/australia-s-10-richest-people-revealed-20230523-p5dapa . live .

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