Startmate Collective

Meet the Startmate Collective Community: Zoe Keck, Corporate Accountant at Canva

In this spotlight series we are introducing the courageous, clever and powerful women in our Startmate Collective community. Let us introduce Zoe Keck! Zoe is a Corportate Accountant at Canva!

By
Bell Allen
July 4, 2025

In this spotlight series we are introducing the courageous, clever and powerful women in our Startmate Collective community.

To better understand the journeys of our Startmate Collective community, we reached out to hear their reflections on pivotal moments, their unique strengths, and the goals that drive them forward.


So, let us introduce Zoe Keck! Zoe is a Corporate Accountant at Canva!

Tell us a little bit about your career so far…

I have always had a passion for creativity — I  studied design alongside accounting at uni and have been operating a freelance photography business for the past five years. I started my accounting career in public practice where I empowered small business owners to understand and take control of their finances. Last year I landed a job in the Finance team at Canva, where I have the opportunity to seamlessly fuse my creative and analytical skillsets while giving back to the community.

What is your #1 professional superpower?

People are often surprised to hear I am a creative and an accountant. You can do both! A unique skillset will set you apart, which is fundamental to building a strong personal brand.

What is the #1 area you'd like to grow in professionally?

I love the challenges and learnings that come with working in a high growth startup environment. The fast paced nature continually pushes me to adapt and innovate. I’m currently focused on refining my craft to elevate my impact and share this knowledge so I can empower those around me.

What’s a quote you live by?

Paint the back of the fence.

Outside of work, what do you love to do?

Photography, yoga, sunshine, ocean swims, dogs and infrared saunas.

Why did you join Startmate Collective?

I joined Startmate Collective to surround myself with likeminded women that uplift and empower each other to thrive in their careers. The community values align with my passions for women’s advocacy and personal growth, so it was a no brainer. It’s a place where I can connect with leading women in tech, expand my network and gain access to resources that help me grow both personally and professionally. It also puts me in a privileged position to give back and help break down barriers women face in the industry.

What's been your favourite part of Startmate Collective thus far?

My favourite aspect of Startmate Collective is by far the community. It is a safe space for us to be raw and vulnerable and it is heartwarming to see how close we have all become in such a short period of time. I’m excited to observe how these connections continue to blossom over the next year and beyond.

What does "Startmate Collective" mean to you?

I am a firm believer that there is room for everyone to succeed. Startmate Collective truly embodies this notion — it’s an invaluable source of inspiration and empowerment. Everyone in this community wants to see each other win. Startmate Collective enables us to push boundaries and champion one another to reach new heights. It’s like having your own personal cheer squad!

______


We’re overhauling gender diversity in startups because it’s about damn time.

Come join Startmate Collective, a community of courageous, clever and powerful women who are hungry to tackle the world’s greatest challenges and are roaring to get started.

🐞 Startmate Collective is a curated membership helping women upskill, connect, and grow in their career alongside other rising stars in the ANZ startup ecosystem. It’s a highly-vetted membership where women connect and grow.

👉 Learning for more about Startmate Collective https://bit.ly/3VMxOUi

🦋 Startmate Collective - Leaders unleashes the next generation of women leaders in the ANZ startup ecosystem, accelerating professional development through exec coaching, peer-to-peer mentorship, exclusive workshops and a powerful women-led community.

👉 Learn more about Startmate Collective - Leaders https://bit.ly/4bbhVvp

Itching for more? Read more https://www.startmate.com/writing

Bell Allen
Junior Content Creator
Meet the author

More articles like this

Startups 101
Startmate Collective
GreenPay: Putting nature at the centre of every transaction

Holly Brooks

October 20, 2025

GreenPay: a payments platform built on a deceptively simple idea: what if every transaction, every coffee, every invoice, every energy bill, every online checkout, could help protect nature?
Accelerator
Startmate Collective
Women
Being a Solo-Founder and Changing Period Product Access with Remy Tucker

Bell Allen

September 24, 2025

Remy Tucker, founder of On the House, shares her journey from midwife to solo founder and how she’s building an ad-funded period product empire. Here are all the tips, tricks and tools Remy uses daily
Startmate Collective
Women
Why founders are sneaking into Startmate Collective?

Bell Allen

September 17, 2025

Founding a startups like speed running a game with the difficulty set to “unwinnable” and half the instructions in invisible ink. Here's why founders are joining Startmate Collective.