By Grace Stanley
Cornell University alumnus Scott Belsky ‘02, partner at entertainment studio A24 and founder of A24 Labs and Behance, has joined the Cornell Tech Council. Belsky joins a distinguished group of leaders who help guide the strategic direction of Cornell Tech.
A Cornell alumnus and longtime advocate for creative empowerment, Belsky brings a unique blend of experience in product innovation, design, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. He previously served as Adobe’s Chief Product Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, and first joined Adobe through the acquisition of Behance in 2012.
During a tenure where Adobe’s market cap grew from approximately $19 billion to over $170 billion, Belsky led efforts to build new services for Creative Cloud, to bring Adobe’s creative tools to mobile and web platforms, to advance AI-driven product development, and to launch Adobe Express. He also introduced the open protocol for content credentials, which helps foster content attribution and transparency for creators.
“I’m honored to join the Cornell Tech Council and contribute to a campus that’s redefining how technology and creativity intersect,” said Belsky. “Cornell Tech’s interdisciplinary approach and commitment to impacting society positively with technology resonate deeply with my values, and I look forward to supporting its mission.”
Belsky is also the founder and former CEO of Behance, a leading online platform for creative professionals, which now serves over 55 million users. Following its acquisition, he continued to champion tools and systems that support creative productivity and attribution.
“Scott’s visionary leadership and deep commitment to empowering creators make him an extraordinary addition to the Cornell Tech Council,” said Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech. “His decades-long engagement with Cornell speaks volumes about his dedication to innovation and impact. We’re thrilled to welcome someone who understands the role Cornell plays in shaping the future of entrepreneurship.”
In addition to his role at A24, Belsky is a prolific early-stage investor and advisor to companies at the intersection of design and technology, including Pinterest, Uber, Airtable, Ramp, KoBold, and Notion. He serves on the boards of Atlassian, the Museum of Modern Art, and Cornell’s entrepreneurship program. He is also a partner in Kindling Holdings, which supports brands that foster tangible creativity.
In addition, Belsky is the author of two international bestsellers — “Making Ideas Happen” and “The Messy Middle” — and publishes “Implications,” a widely-read newsletter for product leaders and creatives. Belsky earned an MBA from Harvard University in 2008 and a bachelor’s degree from the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) in 2002.
In addition to his new role on the Cornell Tech Council, Belsky has been a deeply engaged Cornell alumnus for over two decades. He currently serves on the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Advisory Council and has played a prominent role in Cornell’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through Eclectic Convergence for the past eight years.
In April 2024, Belsky joined the Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) Advisory Council, further extending his influence across Cornell’s design and technology initiatives. Belsky’s past leadership roles at Cornell include service on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Advisory Council and the Cornell University Council.
“Cornell shaped my early thinking about innovation at the intersection of art and science,” Belsky said. “Joining the Tech Council feels like coming full circle, with a chance to give back and support the next generation of tech leaders and scholars.”
Grace Stanley is the staff writer-editor for Cornell Tech.
