The year is 2020. The world had slowed to a crawl due to the pandemic. Chandra Donelson was balancing federal data leadership, grad school, and motherhood when her four-year-old son asked a question that changed everything: “What is data?”

That moment sparked the creation of “The Data Detective at the Carnival,” a groundbreaking children’s book that brings data to life for young minds and has since inspired a global literacy movement.

This September, Donelson, author, board member and CDAIO, takes the stage at the Chicago Leadership Summit to deliver her keynote, “Breaking the Mold: Bold Leadership Lessons from the Frontlines of Data & AI.” Ahead of her session, we sat down with her to talk about the story behind her book, her leadership journey, and why she believes making data understandable for all is critical to the future.

Edited Excerpts

Q: What inspired you to write “The Data Detective at the Carnival”?

My inspiration for writing “The Data Detective at the Carnival” truly began during a very unique moment in 2020, when the world seemed to pause. I found myself in a teeny tiny apartment, with my laptop sitting on the kitchen table, next to a half-empty can of Red Bull. I was juggling a full-time role as a data manager for the U.S. Department of the Army, pursuing my master’s in data science and analytics from the University of Missouri, and most importantly learning how to be the best parent I could be. It was right in the middle of all that, in between Zoom meetings and snacktime, that my four-year-old son asked me a question: “What is data?”

He kept hearing the word everywhere – on the news (reporting COVID stats), in my work calls, even in my school lectures. I didn’t know it then, but that one question, those three little words, would change everything for us. I’ll never forget trying to explain it to him; afterwards, he raised one of his little eyebrows, which was his way of letting me know he had no clue what I was talking about. So I decided to go online and order a book.

But as I searched high and low for resources to help kids understand data, I came up completely empty-handed. There wasn’t anything out there. The more I looked, the more I realized there was a huge, undeniable gap in children’s literature. No one was teaching kids about data. So, I did what any determined mom that’s already overwhelmed and has too much on her plate would do: I added something else to it.

Determined to fill that void, I spent hundreds of hours digging into the children’s book market. I was so consumed by the idea that I built a pitch deck filled with market insights, which I’d then share with publishers. Their response was always the same: “regret to inform you, there isn’t a market for it.” But I had set my mind to do it, and the rebel in me didn’t care; I was going to do it anyway.

For three years, I worked tirelessly – learning the craft of children’s storytelling, sourcing illustrators, and perfecting my manuscript. I’ll admit, “I had no clue what I was doing,” but I knew the idea was important. I reached out to everyone I could: friends, colleagues, publishing professionals, even strangers on LinkedIn. Despite the setbacks and rejections, I pressed on, believing it would pay off.

And in 2023, my persistence did pay off, when I landed a publishing deal with a well-established data publisher. The next year, “The Data Detective at the Carnival” made its debut, with my son, William, serving as the inspiration and even the main character. He’s truly been involved since day one – the creative director, the kid-proofing translator, and the heart of the whole project.

Q: The book teaches data literacy through a child’s eyes. Why do you believe early exposure to data thinking is so important?

Teaching kids about data early on is absolutely essential. Our kids are growing up in a world flooded with information. Think about it: every time they ask Alexa a question, go to the crafting table in Minecraft, or watch a YouTube video recommended “just for them,” they’re interacting with data-driven systems. So, the question isn’t if they’ll use data. It’s when we’ll start teaching them how to read, write, analyze, communicate, and reason with data effectively from where they are.

Q: What has the response been like from educators and parents while on your first book tour? Any moments that have really stayed with you?

The response during this first book tour has been overwhelming in the best way. It was a journey just as spontaneous as writing the book itself!

I was actually at my mother’s house during Christmas break when, out of nowhere, I told my family, “I’m going to go on a book tour!” I didn’t really know what that meant or what all was involved in pulling it off, but 45 days later, I would start out on what would turn into a 19-city multi-tour across North America. Despite the exhaustion of traveling thousands of miles, living out of suitcases in hotels with my son, and fighting over the window seat during our flights, every single bit of that effort becomes worth it in the “I want to” moments.

It’s those moments after an event when a little person or even an adult, shy with clammy hands or bursting with excitement, walks up to me and says, “I want to be in data!” or “I want to be an author!” or “I want to…” followed by their own big dreams. Those are the moments that will always stay with me. 

Q: What’s one lesson from your leadership experience that you think every aspiring data professional — or young data detective — should hear?

Forget the buzzwords, the hype, the shiny object. Just be the person who gets things done. Good ideas are everywhere. But people who can take an idea and actually execute it? They are rare. Every organization needs a finisher. Someone who can deliver results when it matters. That kind of reliability is what sets you apart in any field.

Q: Your journey spans formalwear boutique owner, military intelligence, data strategy, and now authorship. What personal experiences have most shaped how you lead today?

If I had to pinpoint the most significant personal experience that shaped how I lead today, it would be Lebell’s. For most people, being 14 is about figuring out where you fit in, navigating heartbreaks, and agonizing over what to wear. But for me, after that last bell rang, every single day after school, I would rush to Lebell’s: a small formalwear boutique I opened, spurred by nothing more complicated than the immediate need to impress a boy.

Looking back, Lebell’s was far more than a business; it was my playground. It was a special place where my imagination had no limits. Within those walls, painted in a bold, audacious palette of lime green, orange, purple, and pink, I could be absolutely anything I chose.

I could be a visionary leader like Steve Jobs, not just forecasting future trends, but creating them right there on the shop floor. I could be a master negotiator like Warren Buffett, brokering the best deals with global suppliers to provide affordable formalwear to large Southern families, often with limited incomes.

I could also be a renowned psychologist like Sigmund Freud, subtly picking up on the quiet anxieties and big dreams of customers, learning to connect with people on a deeply personal level, understanding their unspoken hopes and fears. And when the inevitable hit – a shipment delay, a finicky sewing machine, or a sudden change in plans – I could be a relentless problem-solver like Katherine Johnson, learning to think fast, adapt, and find a solution, no matter what.

That small shop in Texas, founded on the simple need for a homecoming dress, became the unlikely proving ground for every leadership quality I now possess. It taught me that leadership isn’t about age or title; it’s about being so passionate about something that people think you’re crazy and still having the grit to do it anyway. More importantly, it helped me build the confidence to turn the entire world into my Lebell’s.

Q: Has there been a defining moment in your career where you truly felt:  “This is why I do this”?

There’s no single moment. It’s a collection of quiet ones – often unnoticed, never caught on camera – that remind me of why I push myself so hard to show up each and every day. 

It’s when a little girl from Southeast DC tugs at my sleeve after a reading, looks up, and says, “I think I can do it, too.” It’s the message from a young woman in Europe who read my story and found the courage to apply for a job she never thought she could get and got it.

It’s the college student from Africa who was ready to drop out until one of my quotes gave him just enough hope to stay – who has now graduated cum laude and just landed his first job in data. 

It’s the single mom from Chicago who asked for 10 minutes of my time after hearing my story – who chose to go back to school, finish her degree, and has now built a life for her children she once thought was out of reach.

Most people don’t need another self-help book or a list of routines to follow. What they really need is proof that it’s possible. And I’m honored to be that proof for so many around the world.

Q: Who are a few of your key mentors throughout your career? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from them that shaped your approach to leadership?

When I look back at the key people who shaped my approach to leadership, it wasn’t those with a corner office on the top floor. It was everyday Americans who, through their actions, taught me what it means to lead without a title.

Like the cashier at the Potato Patch in Texarkana who for over two decades remembered my order: “#16, sub chives for broccoli and add jalapenos.” Through her consistent unreasonable hospitality, I learned the power of being customer-centric and making people feel seen.

Then there was the janitor at UAMS who taught me it doesn’t matter what you do, but it absolutely matters how you do it. His dedication showed me the importance of pride in work, consistency, and dedication, regardless of your role.

And I’ll never forget the stranger on Flight AA 3753 in 2016 who, seeing my worry, simply leaned over and told me “everything is going to be okay, suga.” Her small act of kindness underscored the immense power of empathy, calm, and reassurance in times of uncertainty.

These weren’t formal mentors, but like them, many people around the world, their quiet actions, have collectively shaped my leadership philosophy. 

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Donelson’s journey is proof that leadership in data and AI isn’t just about technology — it’s about vision, courage, and the willingness to break the mold.

Catch her live at the 2025 Chicago Leadership Summit on September 10, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop, where she’ll deliver her keynote address, “Breaking the Mold: Bold Leadership Lessons from the Frontlines of Data & AI.”

Seats are limited — register now to secure your place at this inaugural event.