8 Leadership Lessons from Melanie Perkins Every Entrepreneur Should Practice
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By Brandon Ivan Peña – Coffeepreneur, Business Coach & Founder of 787 Coffee
At our Tuesday leadership session at 787 Coffee, we didn’t just talk about coffee—we talked about character, courage, and consistency. And this week, the inspiration came from one of the most powerful female founders in the business world: Melanie Perkins, CEO and co-founder of Canva.
She’s not just a tech founder—she’s a visionary leader who took a bold idea and turned it into a $26 billion companyserving over 170 million users around the world. As a coffeepreneur, I saw a direct connection between what she built and how we lead teams, build coffee shops, and grow sustainable, purpose-driven brands.
Who is Melanie Perkins?
Background: Born in Perth, Australia. She studied communications and commerce. No tech background. At 19, she started a yearbook design company that led to the idea for Canva.
Founding Canva: She co-founded Canva in 2013 with Cliff Obrecht, after being rejected by over 100 venture capitalists. Her pitch? Make design accessible to everyone, not just professionals.
Today: CEO of Canva, valued at $26 billion, serving over 170 million users, generating $3 billion/year in revenue.
What Makes Her a Great Leader?
Visionary Simplicity:
She saw a problem (design tools too complex) and created a simple solution.
Lesson: Simplicity is powerful. Leaders at 787 Coffee should look for ways to simplify operations, storytelling, and caffeinated customer experiences.
Relentless Resilience:
100+ rejections didn’t stop her. She believed in her idea and kept pushing.
Lesson: Rejection is redirection. Leaders must stay focused, especially when facing hard days, bad reviews, or low sales.
Empathy-Driven Design:
Canva is built for everyone—teachers, small businesses, non-designers.
Lesson: Think like your customer. Build systems, store experiences, and products that make humans feel included and empowered.
Inclusive Leadership:
She leads with humility and purpose, pledging much of her wealth to philanthropy.
Lesson: Leadership isn’t ego. It’s impact. How are you improving the team around you?
Here are 8 leadership lessons from Melanie Perkins—simplified for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to lead a team with heart and hustle.
1. Solve a Real Problem Simply
Melanie didn’t invent design—she reimagined access to it.
Leadership takeaway: Don’t overcomplicate your solution. Make it easy. Make it valuable. Make it human.
2. Rejection Is Redirection
100+ venture capitalists told her “no.” She kept going.
Leadership takeaway: Not everyone will believe in your vision—until you prove it with action.
3. Lead with Purpose, Not Ego
She pledged most of her shares to the Canva Foundation.
Leadership takeaway: Give more than you take. Serve more than you show off. Impact > Image.
4. Hire for Belief, Train for Skill
Melanie built a team that believed first—then learned the tools.
Leadership takeaway: The right attitude beats the perfect resume. Hire humans who care.
5. Design for the Underdog
Canva is for non-designers. It empowers beginners.
Leadership takeaway: Build your brand for the humans who need it most. Be inclusive, not exclusive.
6. Stay Curious. Stay Humble.
Despite her success, Melanie is still evolving, still listening.
Leadership takeaway: The best leaders are always students. Learn something new every week.
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7. Empower Others to Lead
Canva doesn’t just create tools—it creates creators.
Leadership takeaway: At 787 Coffee, we don’t just hire baristas. We build leaders, storytellers, and community builders.
8. Scale with Soul
Canva grew fast but never lost its values.
Leadership takeaway: Growth means nothing if your team hates the journey. Culture scales when it’s rooted in care.
Why This Matters to Coffeepreneurs and Leaders Like You
Whether you're running a coffee shop, launching a product, or managing a team—you’re not just building something for now, you’re building something for the future. Melanie Perkins proves that big dreams backed by purpose, simplicity, and resilience can change the world.
And that’s exactly what we’re doing at 787 Coffee—and what I teach through my business labs, coaching, and brand consulting at soybrandon.com.
What Can 787 Coffee Leaders Learn from Canva & Perkins?
Canva Insight 787 Coffee Application Design for the user, not the expert Simplify the in-store flow. Think: how easy is it for a customer to order, sit, shop, and return?
Persistence > Talent Train your baristas to improve daily, not be perfect. Consistency wins.
Give back as you grow Keep building community partnerships. Coffee + purpose = impact.
Innovation starts with frustration If something annoys you, fix it. That’s how Canva started
I am here to help you turn YOUR brandON
YOU GOT THIS! Stay caffeinated.
✍️ Brandon Ivan Peña is a business coach, Latino entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of 787 Coffee and award winner author of the Creative Fucker book. He teaches leaders how to scale with soul, build teams that thrive, and grow with purpose. For more insights, workshops, and resources, visit soybrandon.com and follow him @soybrandon