Donelson took the stage for a fireside chat moderated by Peter Aiken, President of DAMA International, in front of a standing-room-only audience of more than 300 attendees. Her talk centered on the theme "Never underestimate the impact of your presence"—a message that resonated so deeply with the audience that it earned Donelson a standing ovation and left several attendees visibly moved.
"It was an inspiring talk from an engaging and dynamic leader," shared Malcolm Hawker, Chief Data Officer and host of the CDO Matters podcast. Robert S. Seiner, data governance expert and author of Non-Invasive Data Governance, added, "You and Peter were perfect as the closing keynote. Standing ovation worthy." Shannon Kempe, Chief Digital Officer and co-chair of Women in Data Management and Governance, echoed the sentiment in her own post: "She doesn't want to hold onto the table—she wants to expand it!"
Drawing on her experience establishing data and AI programs for some of the world's largest organizations, Donelson shared candid lessons on leadership, resilience, and the realities of deploying solutions. She emphasized the importance of building people-first strategies that go beyond tools and frameworks to foster trust, clarity, and long-term transformation.
Donelson also gave a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of her children's book, The Data Detective at the Carnival, written with her son. She reflected on what inspired the book, how it ties into her broader mission of data literacy, and what's next as she continues to scale her impact.
Following the keynote, Donelson signed copies of her book and took photos with attendees, engaging in one-on-one conversations with data professionals from across the industry.
Donelson's appearance at EDW marked a milestone in her 2025 book tour, which blends executive insights with a grassroots mission to bring data literacy to children and families around the world.
To learn more about Chandra Donelson, her speaking engagements, or her children's book, visit www.thedatadetective.org or contact contact@thedatadetective.org.
Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)
Source: The Data Detective
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