S4 Ep16: Inside Canva’s Move from PLG to Enterprise-Led Growth

What happens when one of the most beloved product-led growth (PLG) companies in the world starts thinking like an enterprise software giant?In this episode of That’s What I Call Marketing, I sit down with Emma R, Global Head of Demand at Canva, to explore the company's fascinating evolution—from a self-serve tool for creatives to a serious enterprise-grade platform used by the world’s biggest brands.We discuss:*Why B2B marketing needs more emotion and less jargon*How Canva blends fun with functionality (yes, even for the C-Suite)*The role AI is playing across both product and marketing workflows*How the team is navigating the shift from bottom-up adoption to top-down enterprise sales*What marketers can learn about testing, localisation, and scaling with culture*This one’s packed with sharp thinking, practical lessons, and a few great stories 02:32 – Intro: Canva, Creativity, and Conor’s Fan Moment04:32 – Emma’s Tech & Marketing Journey (From Salesforce to Canva)06:32 – Falling in Love with the Product: Why it Matters in Marketing08:17 – From Rap Launches to Enterprise Strategy: Bold Moves in B2B10:32 – Why B2B Marketing Needs a Human Touch12:02 – Understanding the Modern Buyer Journey (Gen Z, Self-Serve, TikTok)13:32 – Test, Learn, Scale: What Works and What Doesn't15:32 – How Canva Uses AI Internally (And Where It Adds Real Value)18:32 – The Shift to Enterprise: New Teams, Skills & Sales Models21:17 – Product-Led Growth vs Enterprise Motion: Why Both Matter24:32 – Changing Perceptions: Canva as a Serious Enterprise Tool26:32 – KPIs, Pipeline, and the Role of Brand in Driving Growth28:02 – Local vs Global: Cultural Nuance and International Rollout32:32 – Why Localisation Really Matters34:32 – What’s Next for Canva Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.