Forbes Asia has placed the spotlight on Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Destileria Limtuaco’s Olivia Limpe-Aw among this year’s 25 Outstanding Female Leaders.
The 2020 Asia Power Businesswomen list for 2020 released on September 15, 2020, lists the two Filipina leaders in the September issue of the business magazine.
The new Forbes list pays tribute to the women who are making a difference amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the world battles with uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, it is more important than ever that Forbes Asia highlights these businesswomen who are rising to the occasion and excelling during these challenging times… Their track record of success and resilient leadership set inspiring examples for others to follow,” writes Rana Wehbe Watson, editor of the 2020 Asia’s Power Businesswomen list.
Melanie Perkins
Co-founder and CEO of Canva
The 33-year-old Melanie Perkins, born to a Filipino mother, was named the youngest billionaire in Australia. She is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the widely used digital graphic business, Canva.
Perkins cofounded Canva with Cameron Adams and Cliff Obrecht (now her fiancé) in 2013 while an undergrad at the University of Western Australia.
The Forbes profile for Melanie Perkins:
“Perkins, an alum of the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, cofounded Canva with Cameron Adams and Cliff Obrecht (now her fiancé) in 2013 while an undergrad at the University of Western Australia. The graphic design software company has raised more than $300 million since, with the latest round ($60 million) in June valuing it at $6 billion.
“Canva started out as a free-to-use website offering design tools enabling amateur designers to turn out professional-looking graphics, from party invites and posters to corporate brochures. It has since expanded to offer paid, premium packages for professionals and enterprises, helping it turn profitable in mid-2017 and putting it in competition with the likes of Adobe. Now available in more than 100 languages, Canva has more than 700 employees and over 30 million active monthly users in 190 countries.”
Canva had recently upgraded its Filipino-inspired fonts, elements, and templates.
Olivia Limpe-Aw
Chairman and CEO of Destileria Limtuaco
The Forbes profile of Olivia Limpe-Aw states:
“Limpe-Aw is the fifth-generation head of the Philippines’ oldest distiller, which her great-great granduncle founded in 1852. An immigrant from China, he brought with him a family recipe for herbal wine sold as “Vino de Chino.”
“Since taking the helm in 2004, she has added new products and focused on growing overseas. The company now sells more than 40 spirits, wines and liqueurs, including tropical-fruit blends, and exports within Asia and to the U.S. When some cities in the Philippines earlier this year banned booze amid quarantine restrictions, Destileria Limtuaco switched to making hand sanitizer and disinfectants. The fifth of seven daughters, Limpe-Aw is also president of a book publishing company.”
Destileria Limtuaco’s oldest distillery in the Philipines has been turned into a museum. It houses equipment used in making wines and alcoholic beverages. It is located at 482 San Juan de Letran Street.
For the complete list of the 25 Power Businesswomen on the Forbes Asia list, go here.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Destileria Limtuaco’s Olivia Limpe-Aw for being named among Forbes Asia’s power businesswomen of the year.
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