Canva Verified Expert, natural organizer, patient teacher, and lover of online tech (and cake)
Brenda Cadman teaches coaches, course creators and service providers how to use Canva more effectively and efficiently for their business, saving time, energy, and frustration.
In kindergarten, while my classmates played with dolls and dress up clothes, I could be found sorting marbles and buttons and other items in the drawers of my teacher’s storage cabinet… according to shape, colour, and size.
I’ve always loved bringing order to things in my environment, whether it’s paperclips and gel pens or filing cabinets and websites.
Yes. Websites.
I owned and operated a web development company for more than 20 years (since the internet was still in diapers!) before I retired the business in September 2022. Though, in the early days of my career, I worked as a professional organizer.
Life has taken me full circle.
My passion for organizing has followed me everywhere and makes my life that much easier when the world is stressful. I might not know what’s happening tomorrow, but at least I know where everything is!
In 2014, I started using Canva to create branded marketing materials for my business. And as much as I liked the designing part, I loved organizing everything and carefully naming things so that I could make better use of my Canva time.
As a service provider, time is a precious commodity!
I am currently a Canva Verified Expert and have been proud to hold that title since the CVE program was launched in Spring 2022.
Prior to that I was a Canva Certified Creative, and I launched my first Canva course in 2019, sharing my expertise with business owners around the world, so they could fast track their Canva skills using my techniques.
About the baking metaphor
If you’ve been receiving my emails or following me on social media for any length of time now, you’ve likely noticed a theme…
Baking is my jam.
I bake to show that I care. I bake when I’m stressed. I bake when I’m happy. I bake when I’m sad… I love baking. So much.
I enjoy every part of the process—except the cleaning up after myself part. The eating part is my favourite, of course, but, in general, baking is my preferred form of self-care.
No recipe can intimidate me.
Cupcakes… sure! Butter tarts? No problem. Biscuits? Just let me get my rolling pin.
I have an organized kitchen, a solid understanding of baking basics, and Google. With all the necessary tools, carefully measured ingredients, and detailed instructions, I can bake anything.
Baking is both creative and measured. It feeds my need to have control while allowing me the freedom of self-expression at the same time.
And this is such a perfect metaphor for Canva.
I love Canva for the same reasons that I love baking.
But there is no version of reality where customizing a template will give me more satisfaction than the first bite of a warm chocolate chip cookie… 🍪