Leading content design at Canva (Sally Bagshaw)

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Canva is a true (Aussie) tech success story, and the content
design practice there is no small reason why. 


One of the people leading that practice is Sally, Head of Content
Design at Canva.


Sally and I dive into how Canva has built one of the strongest
content design practices in the world, why leadership is about
more than managing people, and what content designers need to do
to grow their careers. We also discuss why content design in
Australia often feels a few steps behind the global stage and
what Canva is doing to set an example.


This was such an honest and motivating conversation, and I think
it’ll resonate with anyone working in content or design,
especially those navigating fast-paced environments.


Timestamps:


(0.52) Content design at Canva
(4.28) Sally's work experience and history
(8.30) Growing Canva's content design team
(10.44) How Canva content designers approach AI
(13.20) How Sally helps lead and develop her team
(23.00) How leaders should prioritize
(26.20) What Sally looks for when hiring
(29.20) How to navigate change as a leader
(32.50) Sally's biggest leadership challenges
(38.15) The importance of culture and values
(43.30) Psychological safety in teams
(48.20) What the industry needs to change


What we talked about:


How Sally helped build a 30-person content design team at
Canva

Why content drives the first impression users have of Canva

The four pillars of growth for content designers at Canva

Balancing leadership with staying connected to the craft

How Sally helps content designers focus on impact, not volume

The emotional side of change and why people feel loss more
than gain

Why diversity in hiring goes beyond skills to mindset and
adaptability

Navigating the challenges of a fast-growing company culture



Notable Quotes:


“Content drives the first impression of Canva. We have a lot
of responsibility to make sure that’s a good one.” — Sally

“There’s no such thing as time management, only choice
management.” — Sally

(AI): “If we focus too much on the loss, we’ll never realize
the gains.” — Sally



Where to Find Sally:


LinkedIn