Pros
1. Strong product vision with a genuine intention to do the most good we can for the world. Canva is for everyone and every year we launch groundbreaking features that make it more inclusive and empowering. 2. Strong company values modelled by our founders. I think it’s very rare to encounter founders who are authentic and have a true care for people. I admire how they are able to hit revenue and product goals without sacrificing the quality of their leadership. 3. Equal opportunity. There is so much to be done and everyone is asked and welcome to do it. It calls for high initiative. Not waiting to be asked but actually jumping in with solutions that improve processes and make things fast. 4. Growth is intense. This is not only true for the product and the organization. It is truest for a person working in Canva. You are often called on to work on new projects and it doesn’t matter who you are and how long you’ve been any Canva. What matters is having the drive to achieve things, being persistent especially when it’s hard, and being open to learning or unlearning things when you need to. There are no job grades unlike in traditional companies - which means anyone who has proven that they can, can take on new and bigger roles. 5. The workspace and benefits are ridiculous. Free breakfast, lunch, and even takeaways for dinner everyday. The amount of money a person saves on food is ridiculous. We have a barista who makes our morning coffee everyday for crying out loud. What I appreciate the most is the employee assistance program (free counselling) makes me feel that Canva really cares about employees’ well being. 6. Quirky celebrations. This is a no brainer. Just go to youtube and watch our Canva season openers or culture videos. This is one of my favorite things about Canva because it really makes the hard times so worth it, when we come together as a team, have fun, and revel in our success. 7. The people. What a strong and good-natured team. People look out for each other and real friendships are formed in the company.
Cons
Canva is very fast-paced. Many things remain ambiguous. Some people perceive these two as results of poor management, and then result to feelings of frustration. I can’t blame them for feeling this way, but I also don’t agree with them. Unfortunately, Canva is not for everybody. Those who become really happy and successful at Canva are those who understand and accept that how we operate as a company is actually what makes us successful (and not the other way around). The chaos and change is part of who we are. We embrace our mistakes and constantly improve on them without fault finding.