During the spring semester, Syderia Alston, 97色网 Accounting and Finance graduate and FBLA Collegiate president. and 97色网 Director of Business and Administration, Dr. LaTonya Steelea worked together on a research project with Needle & Thread Co., a mobile business, as part of Lenovo鈥檚 Data Trade Gateway Initiative that is a collaboration with N.C. State and other institutions.
鈥淭his was the first time N.C. State reached out and partnered with a community college,鈥 Steele said.
The Data Trade Gateway program, soon entering its third year, pairs local minority business owners with students to serve as interactive data consultants for the business. The students use data visualization to turn complex data into understandable visuals (charts, graphs, maps, dashboards) to reveal patterns, trends, and outliers.
Needle & Thread Co. is based in Raleigh and owned by Derrick Grant. Grant started the business in 2017, specializing in upcycling thrifted and found pieces that he custom makes into something new.
鈥淎fter analyzing the data for Needle & Thread Co., I suggested he stay consistent, post more of his 鈥榞et ready with me鈥 videos and share more of his everyday activities,鈥 Alston said.
The three key objectives of the Data Trade Gateway Initiative are to transfer the skill of analysis and data visualization to minority-owned business owners to help them better plan and execute the operations of their businesses, give students hands-on experience using data visualization software by serving as a 鈥渃onsultant鈥 to the assigned business and allow faculty of North Carolina colleges and universities to foster knowledge of data science within their curriculum through a data visualization tool.
鈥淭he students got to see how a real-world business would use the tool and benefit from it,鈥 Steele said. 鈥淭he student learns and becomes more marketable.鈥
According to Lenovo, Lenovo Evolve Small and the Lenovo Foundation are proud to partner with N.C. State University鈥檚 Data Trade Gateway for a third year. This program educates HBCU and community college students from across North Carolina on data analytics and pairing them with local, black-owned businesses to provide real-time data analysis for small businesses to leverage.
Data visualization analysis provides businesses with a competitive advantage in today鈥檚 world. Students can also learn from data visualization using a company鈥檚 real-time data, which allows them to practically apply data analysis skills they have learned in their college curriculum.