Dr. Robbins travels and is away from home nearly one-third of the year to do the work of diversity and inclusion which he calls his calling. Often asked if he gets tired of all the travel and work, Dr. Robbins says he can get physically tired, but never mentally tired. Why? Because his work is internally motivated by a deep desire to honor is mom.

Dr. Robbins' mom left nearly her entire family behind in Vietnam to take him to the United States in 1970. After many painful years filled with ridicule and discrimination and the loss of a daughter she took her own life in 1991. It was this life-changing event that pushed Dr. Robbins to study culture and communication and ultimately compelled him to do the work he does now. His message, in the context of diversity and inclusion, is an encouragement to be open-minded, willing to entertain other perspectives. And as Dr. Robbins puts it, it is only when we are open-minded that we can truly care about and value others different than our selves.