We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chandra Donelson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chandra below.

Chandra, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In 2020, the world paused. For Chandra Donelson, that pause came in the form of a 600-square-foot apartment, a laptop on the kitchen table, and a four-year-old son asking the most profound question of the pandemic: What is data?

At the time, Donelson was juggling a full-time role as a data manager for the Department of the Army and pursuing a master’s in data science and analytics from the University of Missouri. In between Zoom meetings and coursework, she found herself trying to explain the concept of data to her curious son – an endeavor that turned out to be surprisingly difficult.
“He kept hearing the word over and over – on TV, in my work calls, in school lectures. And one day he just asked, ‘What is data?’” she recalls. “I tried explaining it, but he just looked more confused. So I figured, surely, there must be a children’s book that could help.”

There wasn’t.

That simple realization – combined with a background in data and a mother’s determination – sparked what would become The Data Detective at the Carnival, a groundbreaking children’s book that demystifies complex topics like data, analytics, and problem-solving for young minds.

Filling the Gap No One Else Saw
Donelson searched high and low for resources to help kids understand data. When she came up empty-handed, she turned to research. “I started digging into the children’s publishing market, learning about age-appropriate writing, illustration, and the entire self-publishing process,” she says. “The more I looked into it, the more I realized there was a huge gap in children’s literature. No one was teaching kids about data.”

Determined to fill that gap, Donelson began developing what would eventually become The Data Detective at the Carnival. She built a pitch deck filled with market insights and educational rationale, and she sought advice from publishers, educators, and experts. Most told her it couldn’t be done, but Donelson knew she wasn’t the only parent out there looking for this kind of content.

From Rejection to Release…
For three years, Donelson worked tirelessly – learning the craft of children’s storytelling, sourcing illustrators, and perfecting her manuscript. “I had no clue what I was doing,” she laughs. “I didn’t know how to find an illustrator or what even went into writing for kids. But I knew the idea was important.”

She reached out to everyone she could: friends, colleagues, publishing professionals, even strangers on LinkedIn. Despite the setbacks and rejections, she pressed on, believing it would pay off in the end.

Her persistence did pay off in 2023, when she landed a publishing deal. That following year, The Data Detective at the Carnival made its debut, with Donelson’s son serving as the inspiration and even the main character. “William has been involved since day one,” she says. “He’s the creative director, the kid-proofing translator, and the heart of the whole project.”
…And Passion Project to Nationwide Impact
Since its release, The Data Detective has become more than a book – it’s sparked a movement. What began as a bedtime story has grown into a multi-city book tour, educational partnerships, and international media attention. Over 5,000 children and parents have attended events across North America, and Donelson is only getting started.

Publishing the book gave Donelson the opportunity to talk to kids, parents, and educators about the importance of understanding data, empowering the next generation to solve complex problems.

Even more surprisingly, the same publishing houses and experts who originally dismissed the idea are now entering the space, inspired by her success.

Lessons from the Journey
Donelson credits her success to persistence, passion, and a healthy dose of systems thinking. One of her favorite takeaways comes from entrepreneur Codie Sanchez: “SODA – streamline, outsource, document, automate.”

She also acknowledges the team she’s built around her as a major contributor to her entrepreneurial victories. Donelson says her “phenomenal” team allows her to take this dream far beyond what she ever imagined.
Final Word: Let the Kids Lead
For Donelson, this project has always been more than a business. It’s a legacy – one built side-by-side with her son.

“It’s been an honor to complete this project alongside him,” she says. “Since day one, he has helped shape every page, every word.”

Sometimes, all it takes is one question from a four-year-old to change everything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an author, speaker, military reservist, and above all, a mom.

A few years ago, I told my boss I wanted to work in data. He looked at me and said I didn’t have the aperture for it. Then he reminded me I was a single mom, as if that meant my dreams should be smaller. I went home and cried. Not because I believed him, but because deep down I was afraid he might be right.

That fear sat with me. Until it didn’t.

I turned it into determination. I enrolled in a master’s program for data science. I was working full-time, raising my son alone, and chasing a degree I wasn’t even sure I’d finish. The nights were long. The sacrifices were heavy. But I kept going. Because I had something to prove—to myself, and to the little boy who was watching me.

In December 2021, I graduated with my master’s degree. That same month, I was hired as the first-ever Deputy Chief Data Officer for U.S. Army Intelligence. It was a moment I’ll never forget. I had done what was once impossible. And in the middle of all that, life had one more surprise waiting.

“Mom, what is data?” asked my son.

I didn’t know it at the time, but his question would change everything. It was the beginning of what would become one of the hardest and most meaningful projects I’ve ever taken on: writing the first children’s book about data. Now I’ll be the first to admit, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know how to write for kids, how to find an illustrator, or what it took to publish a book. But I knew his question mattered, and I couldn’t be the only parent trying to explain STEM topics to my child.

After three years of research, trial and error, and a lot of rejection, The Data Detective at the Carnival was published. William helped shape every page. He’s not just the inspiration. He’s the main character, the creative director, and the reason I kept going when it got hard.

Since its release, The Data Detective, now available in five languages, has grown into more than a book. It’s a movement. We’ve visited schools, libraries, and community centers across North America. Over 5,000 children and families have joined us at live events. We’re building activity kits, workbooks, and partnering with educators to make sure data literacy is part of every child’s learning journey, especially those who have historically been left out of STEM.

What makes this work different is heart. It wasn’t born in a boardroom. It was born in a small apartment, between nap time and night school, between rejection letters and bedtime snacks. I built this for my son, but it turns out a lot of parents were looking for something just like it.

So if you’re a parent, teacher, community leader, or just someone who believes in kids, you’re welcome here. Because sometimes all it takes is one question from a four-year-old to spark something big. And sometimes the people the world underestimates the most are the ones who end up changing it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There were so many no’s.

No after no after no.

People told me the book was too complicated. That kids couldn’t grasp a concept like data. That there was no market for something like this. I was told I didn’t have the credentials, the following, or the right connections. Some didn’t even reply. Others flat out said, “This isn’t going to work.” One person even told me, “There’s no path to ROI for a book like this.”

It was discouraging and painful.

But I kept going. I sent hundreds of cold emails and DMs. Most of them went unanswered. Still, I didn’t stop. Then in August 2023, I finally got a yes. A publisher listened to my story during a Zoom pitch and signed me on the spot.

If there is one thing I’ve learned through it all, it’s this: you don’t need everyone to believe in you, you just need one.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Truth is, I didn’t post about the project until it was done.

I was scared it would fail. I poured so much into it, and the thought of putting it out there and watching it flop terrified me. So I stayed quiet. I worked on it behind the scenes. I didn’t talk about it online. I didn’t want anyone to know in case it didn’t work out.

I was my biggest critic, and the truth is, the people who are going to show up for you will show up- even when you fail. And the ones who won’t? They were never your people to begin with.

If you’re sitting on something because you’re afraid it might not work, I get it. But do it anyway. Post it anyway. Start anyway. You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to move through it.

Your yes is out there. But you won’t find it if you’re hiding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thedatadetective.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_data_detective/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandradonelson/

Image Credits

Jamie Freeman