VIEWPOINT
Defining moments that created an entrepreneur
Scott Belsky '02 (CALS, applied economics and management) is the founder and CEO of Behance, which operates an online platform for creative professionals and develops productivity tools. He is the author of Making Ideas Happen (Penguin Books, April 2010). See larger image
When I was in high school, a friend and I started a small sportswear firm. I considered it a hobby-turned-business and didn't know much about entrepreneurship at the time. But something about the startup experience fascinated me. Perhaps it was the process of gathering a team or creating a brand from scratch. I also enjoyed the challenge of navigating ambiguity and finding ways to market something new.
As my freshman year at Cornell began, I wondered if these interests and skills could be developed further. I feared that the closest I might get to an entrepreneurial experience would be a team project in biology.
My first defining moment occurred during the second semester of my freshman year when an older classmate suggested that I drop by an office in Warren Hall to learn more about entrepreneurship from the forerunner of Entrepreneurship@Cornell, then a relatively new program. I received information about various classes of interest to entrepreneurial-minded students, ultimately taking six classes across three different colleges. I was struck by the diversity of these classes and the students' high level of motivation.
My fellow students were eager to share their passions and develop the skills to pursue their interests. I learned how to write a business plan and conduct market research. More importantly, I began to develop ideas with my peers outside of class. Late nights were spent in the library doing research and plotting marketing strategies.
I also joined and eventually became the leader of the student-run Cornell Entrepreneur Organization and had the opportunity to attend entrepreneurship conferences across the country.
I was most fascinated by my experiences with student organizations and entrepreneurial projects. I enjoyed diving into new interests and searching for a business opportunity, whether it was an online corporate clothing company, a sportswear brand or a student resource portal.
My entrepreneurship classes and extracurricular activities helped me develop the skills to take action on my ideas. Through multiple class projects and extensive planning of events, I learned about productive partnerships and the raw perspiration required to start anything new. The opportunity to lead student organizations proved the ultimate experiential education in leadership. And the diversity of interests among my Cornell peers provided a grounding seldom found in a traditional business education.
After a five-year stint at Goldman Sachs, I went on to receive my MBA from Harvard Business School. And while I enjoyed the curriculum and case studies on startups, it was my Cornell education in entrepreneurship that emboldened me to start my own business.
I now employ 12 extremely talented people. Together, we are on a mission to help organize the creative world. Our online and offline products are all targeted to the creative industries. Cornell continues to run strong in our company's DNA. For the past two summers we have hosted Cornell interns at our office in New York City, made possible by the Entrepreneurship@Cornell program -- whose advisory council I have served on since 2002.
My path has been neither predetermined nor intentional. It has been interest-driven, supported by a rich experiential education in entrepreneurship that made all the difference.
Scott Belsky '02 (CALS, applied economics and management) is the founder and CEO of Behance, which operates an online platform for creative professionals and develops productivity tools. He is the author of "Making Ideas Happen" (Penguin Books, April 2010).