# Black in Robotics’ Ayanna Howard, Monroe Kennedy III on diversity & inclusion

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2020-09-16
- Length: 1h 10m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion

## Summary

Professor Ayanna Howard (Georgia Tech, Zyrobotics) and Professor Monroe Kennedy III (Stanford), co-leads of Black in Robotics, discuss the organization's mission to promote diversity and inclusion in the robotics industry. They highlight systemic barriers, the need for 'pathways' rather than just a 'pipeline,' and the importance of ethical AI and representation in product design. The guests share personal journeys, the recent success of their kickoff event, and advice for aspiring roboticists, while the hosts discuss industry news including Nvidia's acquisition of Arm and Boston Dynamics' Spot robot.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [1:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=106) Introduction: Ayanna Howard and Monroe Kennedy III
- [4:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=267) Personal Journeys and Early Inspiration
- [12:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=730) Systemic Barriers and the Pipeline vs. Pathways Debate
- [16:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=960) Black in Robotics Mission and Structure
- [23:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=1435) Ethical AI, Bias, and Regulation
- [33:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=2005) Advice for Aspiring Roboticists and Hope
- [40:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-16-black-in-robotics-ayanna-howard-monroe-kennedy-iii-on-diversity-inclusion#t=2437) Industry News: Nvidia, Arm, and Boston Dynamics

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Black in Robotics (other)
- Zyrobotics (company)
- Georgia Tech (other)
- Stanford University (other)
- Nvidia (company)
- Arm (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Spot (product)
- ROS (other)
- Clear Path Robotics (company)
- Uber (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode Forty-Six: Carlotta Berry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-04-28-episode-forty-six-carlotta-berry) (Robot Talk)
- [367: Data of Our Lives](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-25-367-data-of-our-lives) (Embedded.fm)
- [525: Some Sort of Metal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-14-525-some-sort-of-metal) (Embedded.fm)
- [393: Don't Drive My Baby Off the Table](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-11-19-393-dont-drive-my-baby-off-the-table) (Embedded.fm)
- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-03-12-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head-repeat) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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