Tara Collins, co-founder and CEO of Paper Crane
Still a designer at heart?
Tara co-founded Paper Crane in 2019 and runs it as CEO. She also still does the art direction. Before that she was an art director at Copper Fish, led the creative team at ATCO, consulted on her own, and started a non-profit that ran events in Canada and Wales. She was on the board of the Calgary chapter of Startup Grind from 2017 to 2024 and its Director from 2021 to 2024, and is a mentor for young business owners with Founder’s Institute.
The best part of the job is still brainstorming the first concepts.
Career
Where she has worked
- 2002–2008
Art Director
Copper Fish
- 2008–2017
Creative lead
ATCO · Client side marketing and communications
- 2017–2019
Creative consultant
Independent
- 2010–2014
Founder & Director
Non-profit · in Canada and Wales
- 2017–2024
Board Member 2017–2021, Director 2021–2024
Startup Grind Calgary
- 2019
Co-founder, CEO and Creative Directornow
Paper Crane · Calgary and Vancouver
- 2019–Present
Mentornow
Founders Institute
- 2020–2025
Member
Keiretsu Forum
- 2025
Advisory Board member
YYC Data Society
I would rather ship the idea we argued about than the one nobody minded. At least the controversial one will be remembered.
Tara Collins