The secret power of onboarding, w/Canva's Melanie Perkins

Vision Alignment

Canva's success is deeply rooted in its ability to align its vision across all stakeholders, including employees, investors, and users. Melanie Perkins emphasizes the importance of setting ambitious goals and celebrating milestones, which fosters a sense of unity and purpose. She shares how Canva's onboarding process for investors mirrors that of employees, ensuring everyone is on the same page:

Happiness is when what you do, what you think, and what you say are in harmony.

--- Melanie Perkins

This approach has allowed Canva to tackle multiple industries simultaneously, creating a cohesive user experience across various sectors 1 2.

   

Team Culture

Building a strong team culture at Canva involves a meticulous onboarding process that integrates new employees into the company's ethos. Melanie Perkins describes how new hires are welcomed with personalized touches and a comprehensive bootcamp, which includes a deep dive into Canva's history and vision 3. This hands-on approach is designed to make employees feel valued and part of the team from day one.

Starting at a new organization or at a new company is often quite intimidating and filled with a lot of emotion.

--- Melanie Perkins

Quarterly "season openers" further reinforce this culture by bringing the entire company together to share goals and celebrate achievements, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose 4.