Leila Takayama

Leyla Takayama is a human-robot interaction expert with over a decade of experience translating social science insights into robotic design at Hoku Labs, tech startups, and nonprofits. She has contributed to diverse robotic products, from drones to oceanic systems, for a range of users, including operators and untrained bystanders. Formerly a tenured professor at UC Santa Cruz and a senior researcher at GoogleX, Leyla holds a PhD in Communication from Stanford and has received recognition from IEEE, the World Economic Forum, and MIT Technology Review for her innovative work.