This past week, I had the honor of serving as a panelist at the Good Soil Forum 2025 in Dallas, TX. Alongside Tyrome Smith and Adam Berk, we led a conversation titled "Numbers Don’t Lie: Mastering Data to Grow & Scale." What made this session truly powerful wasn’t just the content we delivered, but the intention behind it—to equip Black entrepreneurs with practical strategies to turn data into decisions and decisions into sustainable growth.

In the bustling streets of ancient Rome, fires were a constant and devastating threat. Amid this chaos, Marcus Licinius Crassus saw an opportunity. He formed a private fire brigade, but rather than rushing to extinguish the flames, his men would wait. Crassus would offer to buy the burning property at a fraction of its value. Desperate homeowners, faced with total loss, often agreed. Those who refused watched their properties burn to the ground, left with nothing.

Hard-earned knowledge (though deep learning or life trials) is often squandered by those who feel entitled to it without the struggle. We must question who deserves our wisdom and challenge the reckless misuse of unearned understanding.

Dubois had a rigorous and systematic approach to data collection, which he used to inform his research and advocacy on behalf of black Americans. In his work at Atlanta University, Dubois established a research program that collected detailed data on the social and economic conditions of black Americans in the South.

Dubois and his team used a variety of methods to collect data, including surveys, interviews, and observation. They collected information on a wide range of topics, including education, employment, housing, healthcare, and political participation.

Dubois was particularly interested in using statistical analysis to understand the social and economic conditions of black Americans. He believed that by using data to measure and document the extent of inequality and discrimination, he could more effectively advocate for change.

Dubois' work in data collection was groundbreaking for its time, and it set the standard for sociological research on race and inequality. His approach to data collection has been influential in shaping the field of sociology, and it continues to inform research on social and economic inequality today.

What is customer data and how can businesses use this to provide better services during the COVID-19 pandemic?

By now we hope you’ve heard of COVID-19, a strand of the coronavirus that has swept the world, resulting in many left indoors, self-isolating, and in many countries now under quarantine.

Small and large businesses all over the world have been forced to shut, with only essential stores such as supermarkets left open to reduce the spread of the virus.

However, some businesses such as restaurants are still allowed to provide takeaway services, some online stores are still delivering, and in some cases, other businesses are still operating but under strict social distancing measures.

This article will outline customer data and how you can use this to provide service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let’s begin by defining customer data.