Get to Know James Taylor: GoCanvas’s New CEO
In a recent announcement, GoCanvas® introduced James Taylor as its new CEO. With a wealth of experience in driving growth and innovation, James is set to lead GoCanvas into an exciting new chapter. We sat down with him to learn more about his vision for the company, what inspires him, and what’s next for GoCanvas.
Q: Congratulations on your new role! Can you share what drew you to GoCanvas initially?
James Taylor: Thank you! It’s actually a fun story—I started out as a customer. We weren’t the typical GoCanvas user, but we white-labeled the technology into our solution to solve a key challenge: capturing data and translating it into government-regulated inspection forms. GoCanvas became our “easy button”—saving us time and helping us say yes to more customers.
The more I learned about the company, the more I was hooked. I’ve always loved tech, but what really excites me is technology that empowers the people who make, move, or manage the world we live in. GoCanvas is all about simplifying inspections and maximizing compliance for field workers—an impact that truly matters. That mission pulled me in, and I haven’t looked back since.
Q: What excites you most about stepping into the role of CEO?
James Taylor: I’m incredibly excited to help shape the future of GoCanvas as we continue to grow, innovate, and make an even bigger impact on the industries we serve. AI has already transformed how office workers operate, but we’re at a pivotal moment where technology will do the same for field workers—making their jobs safer [and] more efficient, and giving them back time to focus on what really matters.
Beyond the tech, what truly energizes me is the people—the incredible teams at GoCanvas and SiteDocs. Having been part of the company for over a year, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and talent behind these brands. Leading this team is both an honor and an opportunity to build something amazing together.
Q: What are your top priorities for GoCanvas in the coming months?
James Taylor: My immediate focus is on accelerating growth across all of our brands, including SiteDocs. SiteDocs is already a household name among safety professionals in Canada—now, it’s time to expand that reputation globally.
At GoCanvas, we have an incredible opportunity to further delight our customers by making our platform even simpler, more intuitive, and just as flexible as ever. That flexibility is what makes GoCanvas great, and we’re doubling down on it.
We’re also exploring ways to connect workflows between our users and those of Bluebeam and other Nemetschek brands, creating a more seamless experience across the entire ecosystem. The future is all about efficiency, connectivity, and putting powerful tools into the hands of field workers.
Q: Can you tell us about a mentor or role model who’s had a significant impact on your leadership style?
James Taylor: It’s hard to pinpoint just one mentor or role model—I’ve been fortunate to have several people shape the leader I am today.
One of the most influential experiences in my life actually started in childhood. From ages 3 to 13, I grew up in a cul-de-sac in Tucson, Arizona, surrounded by 18 other boys, all within three years of my age. For a decade, I found myself naturally leading this group—whether it was organizing sports or orchestrating whatever adventure we were into after school. Looking back, those years were my first lessons in leadership, organization, and conflict resolution—I like to think I got my Malcolm Gladwell “10,000 hours” in before middle school.
In my professional life, I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible leaders. Early in my career at Honeywell, I learned a tremendous amount from Dave Cote, longtime CEO. He built a culture that knew how to win the quarter, win the year, and win in the market for years to come—a balance that left a lasting impression on me.
As a recovering finance guy, three leaders played a pivotal role in shifting my career trajectory:
- Usman Shuja, currently build division leader and CEO of Bluebeam, in helping me learn how to win with partners and customers
- Que Dallara, EVP and president of diabetes at Medtronic, in helping me develop strategic thinking and [learn] how to run a business
- Sameer Agrawal, currently CEO of Orbcomm, in helping me think bigger about new markets and new ways to grow
I met Usman Shuja, Que Dallara, and Sameer Agrawal during my time at Honeywell. Their encouragement and belief in me helped accelerate my career beyond finance and into broader leadership roles. I’m incredibly grateful for their impact—along with the many other leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years.
Q: When you are not working, how do you spend your time?
James Taylor: I’m incredibly lucky to have a supportive and fun family that keeps life exciting. My wife and I have been together since high school, and we spent our 20s seeing as much of the world as possible before starting a family.
Now, we have two amazing (and very busy) kids. Our 4-year-old daughter is already a future CEO—she runs our house with impressive authority. Meanwhile, our 18-month-old son is testing the limits of both our home’s structural integrity (bouncing off walls) and its artistic potential (coloring on them). They keep us on our toes, to say the least.
True to our GoCanvas end users, I love a good home improvement project. I recently wrapped up a basement bathroom remodel and built a treehouse in the backyard—both of which, thankfully, are holding up.
Q: Any final thoughts you’d like to share with the GoCanvas community?
James Taylor: First and foremost, thank you to our customers and partners for your trust and support. GoCanvas has built its reputation on innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the people we serve, and I’m excited to continue that legacy.
As we move forward, my focus is on making sure we keep delivering smarter, simpler, and more powerful solutions that help field teams do their best work. And I’d love to hear from you! What can we do better? What do you want more of? Let’s keep the conversation going—your feedback helps shape the future of GoCanvas.
Stay tuned for more updates as James Taylor leads GoCanvas into this exciting new chapter. Want to learn more about how GoCanvas can transform your business? Request a demo today!
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About GoCanvas
GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.
Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.
