Justin Rosenstein

Justin Rosenstein is a software programmer and entrepreneur known for his contributions to widely used digital collaboration and productivity tools. After leaving a graduate program in computer science at Stanford, Rosenstein joined Google as a product manager, where he led projects in the company's communication and collaboration division. His work included Google Page Creator, the precursor to Google Sites, and a project internally codenamed Platypus, which became Google Drive. He also invented and wrote the original prototype for Gmail Chat. This early experience building products used by millions set the stage for a significant chapter in his career.

Rosenstein left Google to become an engineering lead at Facebook, working closely with Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz. At Facebook, he served as technical lead for Facebook Pages, the Facebook Like button, and Facebook Beacon. He was part of the small team that designed the Like button, a blue and white thumbs-up icon that became one of the most recognized symbols in internet history and reshaped online communication.

Rosenstein later co-founded the collaborative software company Asana with Moskovitz, with a mission to enable teams to work together more effectively. Asana's software streamlines teamwork without relying on email and provides communication infrastructure for companies such as Airbnb, Foursquare, Pinterest, Twitter, and Uber. Rosenstein guided Asana to a multibillion-dollar public market debut on the New York Stock Exchange. As head of product, he became a recognized voice on organizational clarity, leadership, and the future of work.

Rosenstein has also become a prominent critic of the technologies he helped create. He has expressed regret over the Like button, citing its role in the rise of the attention economy and its impact on society. Rosenstein appeared in the Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma," which examines the effects of social media on society. He is a frequent speaker on business, technology, and tech ethics, offering an insider's perspective on Silicon Valley.

Beyond Asana, Rosenstein co-founded and serves as co-director of One Project, a social venture working globally with communities to design and implement new forms of governance and economics that are equitable and ecological. He has pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropic causes focused on improving the world. Rosenstein's career spans building foundational internet infrastructure, critically examining technology's societal impact, and advocating for democratic alternatives in technology and governance.