The Importance of Just in Time Learning
Melanie Perkins, CEO, Canva
“All ideas and concepts need to go from chaos to clarity, and the job of a leader is facilitating that transition.”
What’s your advice for a new entrepreneur?
Take the plunge and get started. Looking back, if I knew the full extent of what I needed to know or learn before starting, I might never have taken that first step. I’m a big believer of “just in time learning,” which is the idea that you’re able to learn the knowledge and skills you need in the moment you need them. Building Canva has been a never-ending learning experience. You tackle one challenge after the next, and the sooner you start, the sooner you’re able to begin that learning journey.
If you could change one thing for future women entrepreneurs, what would it be?
On a global level, I want everyone to have equal opportunities — from the essential foundations of a quality education, to workplace opportunities, to leadership positions in politics and beyond.
On a personal level, I think it was helpful throughout our journey to maintain a strong internal locus of control. What this meant was that when we were rejected, I blamed it on things I could control because blaming it on things beyond my control made progress challenging. I think it’s important to remember it's hard for everyone. A quote I love says: “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes footage with everyone else's highlight reel.”
What leadership quality do you think is essential for success in the business world?
All ideas and concepts need to go from chaos to clarity, and the job of a leader is facilitating that transition. For example, turning a pitch deck into a product, or a philosophy into a program or policy. Great leaders add the clarity required to shape the chaos into something tangible while working through challenges that crop up along the way.
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