It’s always the right time to shine a light on Black diligence and excellence. So with the 2026 EBONY Power 100 on the horizon, it is the right time for us to highlight our beloved leaders in STEM. In their own unique ways, they have found instances to utilize the sciences to help not only our people, but our world. Let’s get to know them a bit better, shall we?
Gelyn Watkins for instance is all about our community, and a huge priority of hers is assisting us in having equitable access to the latest in AI materials. Black in AI helps keep the world of policy and legislation on par with the world of tech. At the same token, we have Morgan DeBaun, who functions as the Co-Founder, and CEO of Blavity and AfroTech. Organizing a yearly tech conference where thousands of Black professionals attend is no easy feat. The intention with which these ladies seek to keep our people top of mind really is to be lauded.
From large conferences to the world of aerospace, we have Aisha Bowe. As a former NASA Rocket Scientist, Bowe now uses her expertise to bolster her companies STEMBoard and LINGO, as she champions creating networks for Black people in STEM to connect and find work in the field. Much like Bowe, Dr. Ayanna Howard is also all about making information in STEM more accessible for students at HBCUs. She is finding ways to integrate more AI into curriculums and research.
We now end up leaving the classroom, and head right into the lab with Dr. Kari Williams. As a renowned trichologist, she shares her expertise with Cécred. Their collaboration allows Cécred to create products that sets itself clearly apart from competitors, as it continues to prove how uniquely suited it is for Black hair.
On the other side of the scientific spectrum, there’s Dr. Judith Joseph who operates in the world of mental health. She conducted the first in depth study that explored high functioning depression. A Black woman at the helm of such an endeavor certainly says something. We can now take a trip from the office of Dr. Joseph, straight to the streets, where Dr. Nicol Turner Lee created the AI equity lab to help connect AI technologies with social justice initiatives.
In that same vein of selflessness and philanthropy, there’s Jasmine Crowe-Houston who is the founder and CEO of Goodr. Through Goodr, Crowe-Houston seeks to combat food insecurity all throughout this country. Imagine pairing such a vision with fellow honoree Dr. James Manyika’s. He seeks to harness AI’s economic and scientific potential through global policy.
If it’s one thing we can tell, it’s that these people don’t play about our people, and clearly at EBONY, we honor that!