The sound of laughter and the crackle of discovery filled the air at William H. Taft Elementary on Wednesday afternoon as nearly 80 students became data detectives for a day. From colorful candies to balloon-powered cars, curiosity was the main ingredient in an afternoon designed to make science come alive.

For the kindergarten and first-grade students, the excitement began with a Skittles Investigation, a colorful activity that invited them to count, sort, and analyze candy by color. It was an early introduction to data literacy, a concept usually reserved for much older students.

The usual buzz of a traditional classroom gave way to cheers and laughter as students at Carthage School transformed learning into an interactive masterclass in data literacy. On a bright morning at Carthage School in Cincinnati, Ohio, more than 190 first through third graders gathered for a hands-on experience that blended science, storytelling, and imagination.

What began as a conversation about data and artificial intelligence quickly evolved into something far more profound at the October 7 “Data, AI Careers & Cocktails: Fireside Chat with Chandra”, hosted by the Cincinnati Chapter of Women in Data and sponsored by Burtch Works and AlignAI. Held in downtown Cincinnati, the evening featured Chandra Donelson, fresh off her recognition as CDO Executive of the Year, and unfolded into a deeply human dialogue about purpose, resilience, and the future of leadership in a tech-driven world.

The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) is proud to collaborate with Chandra Donelson, a trailblazer at the intersection of public service, technology, and storytelling. As the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the United States Space Force, Donelson brings deep technical leadership. She’s also an advocate for innovation and the author of The Data Detective at the Carnival, a children’s book that demystifies data for the next generation. In this article, we get to know her better and explore her approach to creating an exciting career in STEM, as well as inspiring young minds along the way.

What first sparked your excitement about STEM? Was there a moment when you realized this could be your career path? 

On a bright Friday afternoon, curiosity filled the halls of the Korean International School, Seoul Campus, as students from grades two through five welcomed a special guest: Chandra Donelson, author of the The Data Detective. Her visit turned an ordinary school day into a memorable celebration of discovery and imagination.

The Pacific Insurance Conference 2025, held in Seoul from September 23-25, placed artificial intelligence at the forefront of the insurance industry’s strategic dialogue. The event gathered global insurance leaders to explore how technology is reshaping underwriting, claims, and customer engagement with a clear message: AI is no longer a future concept; it’s a leadership imperative.

A highlight of the conference was the keynote address by Chandra Donelson, celebrated author and data strategist, whose vision for enterprise AI anchored the three-day event. In her keynote, “From Vision to Value: The Leader’s Role in Driving Enterprise AI Success” Donelson emphasized the evolving responsibility of leadership in steering AI initiatives from experimentation toward measurable, value-driven outcomes.

Technology will push the industry forward

Sharing her insights from a leader’s perspective in driving enterprise AI success, data visionary and author Chandra Donelson said, “Here’s the future I see: by 2040, technology will push the insurance industry from focusing solely on compensating for loss to playing a central role in preventing it."

“The most successful companies won’t be the ones that chase everything – they’ll be the ones that choose the one thing that matters most and commit to it. The challenge of navigating disruption isn’t AI adoption – it’s unlearning. If you can’t unlearn, you can’t innovate. So, if you had to go from 100 to zero, what would you do differently? Think about your workforce, your processes – recruiting, onboarding, decision-making – and your tech stack,” Ms Donelson said.