Canva Sheets, Clear Communication, and Visual Storytelling
Canva is one of the world’s most successful women-led startups, revolutionizing how teams communicate and collaborate. Daniela explains why design has become the universal language in business and how visual storytelling brings clarity, speed, and impact to decision-making processes. With the new platform Canva Sheets, the company takes another step toward productivity by combining data, visuals, and collaboration on a single page.
“We use visual storytelling to go straight to the point, to inspire our audience, to influence them. But you have to be very focused, very clear with your messaging. And when you are able to do that and to include that, I think it’s a very powerful tool.”
Leading with Empathy: Why Kindness Is Not in Conflict with Efficiency
A key focus of the conversation is Daniela’s leadership style, which is based on empathy, empowerment, and clarity, shaped by her work with a foundation for survivors of human trafficking. Her belief: kindness is not opposed to efficiency, but rather the foundation for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
“Unless you are kind you’re not approachable and unless you're unapproachable [...] you’re not being able to share knowledge. ”
Leadership on the Go: Book Recommendations from the Talk
In the podcast, Daniela Nyarko, Head of Strategic Sales EMEA at Canva, shares her current read: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, a book about sustainable change through small habits.
Verena Gründel recommends “Radikale Freundlichkeit” by Nora Blum, a call for more emotional intelligence in everyday work life. Both titles touch on the central theme of the episode: modern, empathetic leadership.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
This episode is about more than just leadership: it’s about mindset, communication, and the tools that truly drive modern teams forward. Here’s a quick overview of the key takeaways:
- The role of kindness and empathy in everyday leadership
- Visual storytelling as the key to effective communication
- The introduction of Canva Sheets as a new productivity tool
- The importance of empowerment and diversity at Canva
Tune in now to the latest episode of the DMEXCO Podcast and look forward to exciting insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of work!
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