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Yani Donato
Country Head at Canva Philippines
Yani Hornilla-Donato is the Country Head at Canva Philippines. She has been instrumental in the growth and development of Canva's operations in the Philippines, starting as the first recruiter in Manila in 2015. Over the years, she has held various roles, including Recruitment Specialist, HR (Team Happiness) Lead, and Head of People Group before becoming the Country Manager.
Key Roles and Achievements:
- Country Lead, Philippines: Since September 2019, Yani has been leading Canva's operations in the Philippines, focusing on strategic team growth, campus development, and community engagement. Under her leadership, Canva Philippines has grown to over 900 employees across multiple specialties.134
- Head of People Group: Prior to her current role, she was responsible for creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Her team included Talent Acquisition, Team Happiness (HR), Canva University (L&D), Internal Coaching, and the Vibe Team (Facilities & Construction, Food & Beverage, Events).3
- Early Contributions: As the first recruiter, she helped scale the team from 35 to its first 100 employees. She also launched several key initiatives, including HR operations, internal coaching, and Canva University.23
Leadership Style and Impact:
Yani's leadership style emphasizes authenticity, approachability, and fostering a collaborative work environment. She attributes her growth to Canva's culture and values, which she helped distill into six core principles: being a good human, being a force for good, pursuing excellence, setting big goals, making complex things simple, and empowering others.4 Her approach has been influential in making Canva a desirable workplace, known for its employee-centric policies and creative workspaces.4
LinkedIn Profile:
Yani Hornilla-Donato's LinkedIn profile can be found under the username yanihornilla. She is based in Metro Manila and has over 500 connections on the platform.3


