Professional Overview
Scott Belsky currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and Executive Vice President (EVP) of Design and Emerging Products at Adobe, positions he has held in recent years until his transition in early 2025. Previously, Belsky was Adobe’s first Chief Product Officer (CPO), where he led product management and engineering for the entire Creative Cloud suite. His leadership at Adobe spans several critical phases including Adobe's transformation to cloud-based services and expanding mobile and web capabilities within Adobe’s product ecosystem.
Company Role and Strategic Influence
Belsky's role as CSO and EVP involves shaping Adobe’s strategic vision, particularly in the creative technology space. He oversees innovation pipelines and emerging product lines tied to creative professionals globally. Throughout his tenure, Belsky managed the integration and growth of creative community platforms and was instrumental in scaling Adobe’s creative ecosystem, with a particular emphasis on user experience and workflow efficiency improvements. His strategic outlook also embraces the accelerating influence of generative AI and new creative economies, which aligns with Adobe’s ongoing expansion into creativity-driven SaaS.
Career Highlights and Notable Contributions
- Founder of Behance (2006), a leading online platform for creative professionals to showcase portfolios. Adobe acquired Behance in 2012 for approximately $150 million. Post-acquisition, Belsky led Behance’s integration and growth within Adobe, advancing community, mobile, and service-oriented product initiatives.
- Led Adobe’s transition towards cloud-based Creative Cloud products, driving product innovation for millions of global users.
- Advocated and implemented workflows that support enhanced creative attribution and career development, positioning Adobe as a key enabler in the creative professional’s lifecycle.
- Key architect behind Adobe’s product and design strategy in a period marked by innovation in mobile, web, and AI-assisted creative tools.
- Took on a leadership partnership role at A24 starting January 2025, focusing on technology and innovation for the film industry while continuing to advise Adobe.
Educational Background and Board Memberships
- Holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics from Cornell University, where he remains engaged as an advisory board member for the Entrepreneurship Program.
- Earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
- Serves on the board of trustees for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, indicating a bridging of his professional endeavors with broader creative and cultural institutions.
Thought Leadership and Publications
- Author of bestselling books including Making Ideas Happen and The Messy Middle, which focus on creativity, innovation processes, and navigating organizational challenges.
- Regular contributor and speaker on topics including creativity, product leadership, and innovation in technology.
- Recognized for coining the term “the messy middle” to describe the challenges in entrepreneurial journeys, emphasizing persistence and strategic clarity.
Other Relevant Information
- Belsky has been recognized for his entrepreneurial and creative leadership with Webby Award honors for his cultural blog presence.
- Maintains a strong presence in the innovation and venture community, acting as an investor and advisor to startups.
- Known for a leadership style that emphasizes team culture, narrative-building, and high performance, all vital for product-driven organizations in dynamic markets.
This profile positions Scott Belsky as a highly influential leader within Adobe whose deep understanding of product innovation, community building, and strategic growth informs Adobe’s efforts to maintain and expand its market leadership in creative software. His recent move toward technology innovation roles in film via A24 reflects a continued focus on cross-industry creative technology applications.
