Black Entrepreneur Experience – Episode 524:

How Chandell Stone Built Chany Ventures from Vision to Impact (Rewind)

Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Dr. Frances Richards
Guest: Chandell Stone, Founder of Destination Impact and Stone Solutions

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Frances Richards sits down with Chandell Stone, an innovative educator, entrepreneur, and founder of several social enterprises including Destination Impact and Stone Solutions. Chandell shares her journey from humble beginnings in the Bronx to creating global initiatives focused on empowering communities of color through education, entrepreneurship, and travel. With stories rooted in identity, impact, and disruption, Chandell offers listeners practical wisdom on bridging opportunity gaps for Black communities—both in the US and abroad.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Entrepreneurial Spirit and Personal Background (01:11–03:10)

• Chandell’s entrepreneurial roots: Grew up in the Bronx with parents who nurtured her independence and hustle.

  • Sold mixtape CDs in middle school as her first venture.
  • Parents always encouraged forging her own path.

• Influence of HBCU and travel: Attended North Carolina A&T (an HBCU), experienced affirmation of identity.

  • Studied math and traveled abroad (India) for 5 months.
  • Exposure to other cultures sparked passion for global impact.

“I was always hustling… wanting to figure out ways to start my own business and make money, even though my teachers did not appreciate that.”
— Chandell Stone, [01:11]

Founding Destination Impact: Redefining Black Travel (03:10–05:23)

• Purpose and activities: Founded in 2014 to expose young Black professionals to transformative travel experiences beyond “poverty tourism”; aimed at identity affirmation.
• Impact of travels: Provided scholarships, built schools and libraries, funded water projects, and supported local communities in the African Diaspora.
• Changing narratives: Strived to showcase Africa’s diversity, vibrance, and innovation.

“Trips are designed to show the beauty within each place and serve as another source of identity affirmation…”
— Chandell Stone, [05:23]

Stone Solutions: Closing the Opportunity Gap in Outsourcing (05:23–08:13)

• Origins: Launched in 2018 to leverage highly skilled African talent, connecting them with global business opportunities, especially in the US and Europe.
• Breaking bias: Noted that outsourcing industries bypassed Africa due to implicit bias—Stone Solutions aims to change this.
• Growth: Started from a personal connection in Kenya; now supports a range of businesses, employs ~7 staff, and expands service offerings.

“…as though Africa is only good for handouts and not for job opportunity, which … is probably steeped in some sort of racist, implicit bias.”
— Chandell Stone, [06:52]

New Ventures in Education: Dunia Collegiate and Degrees of Freedom (08:13–10:45)

• Dunia Collegiate: A charter school in Atlanta envisioned to center anti-racism and cultural identity in education.
• Degrees of Freedom: Hybrid college program targeting first-generation and low-income students, prioritizing flexibility, affordability, and inclusivity.

“Higher education just does not serve first generation and low income students well … it often leaves our students with a ton of debt and not as many opportunities as they should.”
— Chandell Stone, [10:09]

Brands and Black Travel Inspiration (10:54–11:49)

• Admiration: Chandell champions Black travel brands and influencers—like Travel Noire—for making Black international travel visible and aspirational.
• COVID-19 Pivot: During the pandemic, she focused on maintaining community via virtual events rather than pushing travel.

“I really feel like Black travel brands … those are the types of brands that I really like … it's really aspirational and worth aspiring for.”
— Chandell Stone, [11:03]

Gratitude, Challenges, and Social Impact (12:49–15:00)

• Gratitude: Values her family's unwavering support despite her nonlinear path.
• Major problems to solve: Systemic issues like climate change, anti-racism, and especially educational opportunity gaps.
• Advice ignored: Admits to learning by doing rather than taking prescriptive advice.

Hard Lessons & Customer-Centric Growth (15:27–17:45)

• Early failures: Initial travel business did not account for customer needs (e.g., not warning guests about power outages in Kenya), leading to difficult feedback and the need for greater attention to detail.

“…I was building something for myself instead of building something for my customers. And once I changed my mindset, I've … gotten a lot better at that.”
— Chandell Stone, [17:11]

Family, Legacy, and Transformative Experiences (17:50–23:27)

• Most memorable moment: Taking both parents to Kenya—firsts for both—and witnessing their realization of the impact and reality of her work.
• Broader impact: Experiences in Africa shift perspectives for Black Americans, fostering pride and possibility.

“Even though it's not existing happening in America, when Black people go to Africa and they see that it's a game changer … on what they may feel like is possible…”
— Chandell Stone, [22:12]

On Legacy, Reading Preferences, and Business Support (23:06–25:42)

• Legacy goal: To be remembered as a disruptor who initiated “good trouble” for Black progress.
• Current reading: Focused on nonfiction and heavy topics (e.g., Medical Apartheid, The Triple Package).
• Ways to support: Encourages listeners to connect with her businesses for executive assistance services and to spread the word about Degrees of Freedom.

Social Cause, Funding, and Scaling (25:42–27:59)

• Social mission: All ventures are rooted in advancing racial equity—especially through education and opportunity creation.
• Funding priorities: More funding needed for scholarships and online innovation; proud of bootstrapping Stone Solutions without outside capital.

Nighttime Worries and Inspiration (28:02–29:34)

• Biggest worry: The looming influence of US elections on Black futures.
• Influences: Other successful Black women—seeing them succeed fuels her ambition and sense of community.

Advice for Younger Chandell and Aspiring Entrepreneurs (29:39–34:35)

• Looking back: Proud but wants to grow, especially personally, not just professionally.
• Advice to self: Stop stressing, let go of rigid life plans, and trust the process.
• Who should be entrepreneurs: Not for everyone; realistic about the hype and stresses practicality and collectivism over individualistic “mogul” narratives.

“Entrepreneurship … is actually, I don't think it's for everyone. And that's not a good, bad thing … different skills.”
— Chandell Stone, [31:11]

Fun Facts Lightning Round Highlights (34:35–36:01)

• Last movie: Idris Elba CIA film
• Relaxation: Painting nails
• Gym or couch: Couch, twice!
• Food: Pancakes—every week
• Favorite singer: Beyoncé
• Favorite dance song: Anything by Megan Thee Stallion
• First job: Panera Bread

Notable Quotes

1. On identity and mission:

   • “I want to be remembered as the disruptor. I want to be remembered as the girl who started good trouble…”
     [23:06]

2. On building customer-focused businesses:

   • “I was building something for myself instead of building something for my customers…”
     [17:11]

3. On Black travel’s transformative power:

   • “When Black people go to Africa and they see that it's a game changer … on what they may feel like is possible for themselves…”
     [22:12]

4. On entrepreneurship culture:

   • “…start a business not because you feel like it looks cool to say that you run your own thing, but start a business because... no one else is doing it the way you can do it or you can't see yourself like doing any other thing.”
     [33:28]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Chandell’s upbringing & early ventures | 01:11–03:10 | | Founding Destination Impact & travel experiences | 03:10–05:23 | | Stone Solutions & African outsourcing | 05:23–08:13 | | Designing new schools & programs | 08:13–10:45 | | Admired Black travel brands | 10:54–11:49 | | COVID-19 and travel pivots | 11:55–12:45 | | Family support & gratitude | 12:49–13:53 | | Biggest problem to solve (education focus) | 13:58–15:00 | | Learning from early business failures | 15:27–17:45 | | Most memorable business moment (parents in Kenya) | 17:50–20:03 | | Changing views of Africa, conversation on legacy | 20:03–23:27 | | Books & reading habits | 23:31–24:16 | | Ways to support (Stone Solutions, Degrees of Freedom)| 24:20–25:42 | | Social cause, needs, and funding philosophy | 25:42–27:59 | | Nighttime concerns & key influences | 28:02–29:34 | | Reflections on personal growth | 29:39–30:16 | | Advice to younger self | 30:21–31:02 | | Is entrepreneurship for everyone? | 31:11–34:35 | | Fun facts lightning round | 34:35–36:01 |

How to Connect with Chandell Stone

• Websites:

  • destinationimpact.com
  • stonesolutions.me
  • duniacollegiate.org
  • degreesoffreedom.org

• LinkedIn: Search “Chandell Stone” (she’s the only one)

Episode Tone

Chandell’s narrative is candid, often humorous, deeply passionate, and decidedly non-linear. She mixes practical realism with imaginative hope, encouraging resilience, collective progress, and disrupting traditional expectations for Black women entrepreneurs.

This summary captures Chandell Stone's journey, her ventures' impact, and her insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially within the Black and African Diaspora communities. For engaging stories, actionable wisdom, and inspiration to disrupt, this episode delivers.