Why work with
Canvas + Key
Enterprise Experience. Startup Energy. Personal Commitment.
Canvas + Key helps leaders move their goals forward with clarity, confidence, and commitment.
About Canvas + Key
Everything we do is with intention.
Our imagery and words are at the core of what we stand for.
Canvas + Key
Canvas represents the space to explore problems worth solving. Key represents the solutions worth delivering. Together, they reflect our belief that the right answers begin with understanding the right questions.
Wild Cats
Wild cats embody the leaders we admire. Each has its own strengths and instincts, knowing when to be bold and when to be patient. Great leadership calls for that same ability to adapt.
Cedar
Evergreen and resilient, cedar trees can thrive for generations under the right conditions. They represent the enduring organizations we help support, with strong roots to keep growing and weather the storms along the way.
See What Others Might Miss
We bring an independent perspective and a curiosity about what others may have overlooked. We take the time to understand the business and explore opportunities that might otherwise go unexplored.
Experience on Both Sides of the Table
Our perspective comes from having worked inside organizations as well as advising them. We understand the expectations in the boardroom and what those decisions mean for the people responsible for delivering them.
Ownership You Can Count On
We work closely with leadership teams and take responsibility for the assignments entrusted to us. Clients can count on us to understand the bigger picture without losing sight of what needs attention along the way.
Work That Holds Up
We bring rigour to our work, paying attention to the details that can make the difference between a good recommendation and a solution that actually works. We consider what it takes to deliver it, so leaders can confidently stand behind the results.
Bring People Along
We believe that people are the heart of any business. We take the time to understand what matters to them and help them see themselves in what's ahead.
Meet Paula
Paula Kwan
CEO & Principal Consultant
I get to wake up every day excited to work with leaders who are taking on the hard stuff: how to grow, how to adapt, and how to lead through change.
Paula Kwan works with CEOs and senior leadership teams across North America on complex business initiatives, new growth opportunities, and organizational change. Through Canvas + Key, she brings an independent perspective and hands-on leadership to work that requires both strategic thinking and practical execution.
Previously, Paula was the Founding Director of the City of Toronto's Civic Innovation Office, established through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Innovation Program. She built and led the office, working with City leadership to tackle complex challenges and introduce new approaches to public service delivery.
At KPMG Canada, Paula advised public and private sector organizations on customer experience, innovation, and digital strategy. Her work has included establishing innovation programs, developing new business opportunities, and helping organizations turn ambitious plans into working solutions.
Paula's experience spans enterprise organizations, startups, and the public sector. She brings the perspective of someone who has both advised leadership teams and been responsible for delivering the work herself.