Scott Belsky, Adobe's chief product officer and a creative entrepreneur, shares his insights on balancing a busy career with active fatherhood. He emphasizes encouraging creativity in children and the challenges of being a present dad. Scott recounts a harrowing moment during a trip to France, illustrating the emotional rollercoaster of parenting. He discusses the integration of work and family life, along with the importance of self-awareness and meaningful experiences with kids, reminding listeners to be gentle with themselves as they navigate these dual roles.
Scott Belsky emphasizes the importance of being fully present with children, balancing professional duties with quality family experiences over time.
He discusses nurturing creativity in his kids by integrating family activities into his work, fostering engagement and imaginative growth together.
Deep dives
The Balancing Act of Parenthood and Career
Managing the responsibilities of a successful career while being a father is a continual challenge faced by many. The Chief Product Officer at Adobe, Scott Belsky, discusses the ongoing struggle to achieve the right balance between being present for his three children and fulfilling his professional duties. He emphasizes that this balance is not achieved in real-time but rather over longer periods, where time spent traveling for work versus time spent with family fluctuates. Belsky acknowledges that while the pursuit of balance is important, the key lies in being fully present with his children during those moments together.
Fostering Creativity and Curiosity in Children
Scott Belsky places significant importance on nurturing creativity and curiosity in his children's upbringing. He discusses integrating his professional passions into family life by involving his kids in usability testing for an art application he's developing at Adobe. Belsky highlights that such activities allow him to share his professional journey with his children, which fosters engagement and excitement about their learning. Through hands-on projects, like overnight trips for bonding and joint art-making, he creates memorable experiences that promote their imaginative growth.
The Value of Independence in Play
Scott Belsky has learned that allowing children to engage in independent play is crucial for their development. He reflects on the instinct to jump in and play with his kids, realizing that stepping back often leads to more creative outcomes. Instead of directing their play, he recognizes the importance of providing space for his children to navigate challenges on their own, which builds resilience and problem-solving skills. This epiphany underscores that their individual exploration is significant for fostering creativity rather than structured interaction.
Self-Awareness: A Key to Parenting and Leadership
Belsky discusses the correlation between parenting experiences and professional growth, especially in the realm of self-awareness. He believes that the challenges faced in parenthood can help entrepreneurs refine their time management and efficiency in business dealings. This dual focus on being present and adaptable not only enhances parenting skills but also contributes to becoming a better leader in a competitive environment. Both arenas teach important lessons about the necessity of compartmentalization and prioritizing meaningful connections in both professional and personal life.
In this episode of Business Dad, Alexis Ohanian talks with Adobe's chief product officer, Scott Belsky, about being a present father. Scott shares his journey from co-founding Behance to becoming an author and a top executive at Adobe- all while raising three children. Scott talks about encouraging creativity and curiosity in his kids, managing time effectively, and the importance of integrating work into family life. Scott also offers insights into the challenges and joys of parenthood, emphasizing the need to be easy on oneself and the value of creating quality experiences with children. This episode originally aired January 30th, 2020.