How Empathy Drives Creativity and Builds a Culture of Inclusion at Canva
When we reflect on our work experiences, it’s often the moments of meaningful human connection that stand out. Unfortunately, many of us have also experienced times when we felt undervalued or uncomfortable speaking up. At Canva, we understand the importance of empathy in creating psychologically safe and inclusive work environments.
Empathy plays a critical role in fostering an environment where people feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and providing different perspectives. By authentically practicing empathy, we gain the ability to see problems from various points of view and make better decisions. It also directly impacts innovation.
Empathy is deeply ingrained in our values at Canva. We believe that making decisions guided by our values allows us to create the best product and culture for our global team and community. Here’s a closer look at how we’re building a culture driven by empathy:
Communicating Empathetically
Empathetic communication is crucial for creating an environment of trust and transparency. It empowers teams to actively participate in problem-solving and innovation. Actively listening to team members and seeking to understand their experiences and support needs is an essential part of building an empathetic culture.
At Canva, we have various strategies in place to encourage open communication, including People Pulse surveys, a Fix-It Form for sharing thoughts and improvement opportunities, and a confidential Speak Up inbox. By continuously sharing guidance on clear and actionable feedback, we create a safe space for everyone to give and receive feedback effectively.
Embedding Empathy into Everyday Processes
Empathy should be intentionally embedded into everyday processes to inspire other empathetic actions. Reviewing and improving our hiring process to make it more inclusive and thoughtful is one example. We aim to respond to every job application, provide feedback to candidates, and offer adjustments based on personal needs.
Interview questions at Canva also assess for empathy, as we believe it’s a critical skill for every role. We ask candidates about their experiences working with individuals with different viewpoints to gauge their ability to listen, respect perspectives, and collaborate effectively. Additionally, we provide dedicated support and resources to help teammates navigate life’s challenges.
Building Empathetic Leaders
A culture of empathy starts with having leaders who prioritize inclusivity and support their teams’ growth and well-being. At Canva, we have two types of coaches: people managers and professional development coaches. Both play integral roles in fostering a culture of empathy.
Our people managers connect with their team members regularly to set goals, align priorities, and address any obstacles. Over the years, we’ve developed training programs to help our coaches build self-awareness and adapt their coaching style to be inclusive and productive.
Our professional development coaches focus on helping individuals develop their leadership skills through coaching programs and breakthrough sessions. These coaches encourage diverse perspectives and support problem-solving from multiple angles.
Cultivating empathy not only guides problem-solving but also strengthens relationships and creates an environment where diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. At Canva, we believe that empathy is essential for driving creativity and building a culture of inclusion.
Jennie Rogerson is the Global Head of People at Canva.
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