LeaderCast Builds Year-Round Community with OBSESS Framework
LeaderCast partnered with Zenith Labs to transform its annual 100,000-person leadership event into a year-round community. Using the OBSESS framework, they created a gamified global platform that fosters education, engagement, and connection, enhancing networking and brand loyalty.
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By partnering with the founder of Zenith Labs and using the OBSESS framework, LeaderCast successfully transformed its annual event audience into a thriving global community. This initiative not only enhanced brand loyalty and retention but also established LeaderCast as a continuous source of leadership development, connection, and inspiration for leaders worldwide.
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The OBSESS framework
Here’s how they applied each
step of the OBSESS
framework to bring their values to life:
Observe
Zenith Labs collaborated with LeaderCast to assess audience needs, engagement levels, and how attendees interacted with the brand before, during, and after the annual event. They observed that while the event was impactful, the audience remained somewhat fragmented, with limited follow-up engagement or connection once the event concluded. This highlighted the need for a continuous, immersive platform that would keep leaders connected and engaged throughout the year.
Benchmark
Zenith Labs and LeaderCast researched leading community-building strategies and successful online platforms that fostered connection and engagement across large audiences. They discovered that successful communities often used gamification to keep members actively involved, combining education, rewards, and social engagement to create a thriving ecosystem. This benchmarking showed that LeaderCast could significantly enhance its audience experience by blending gamified learning with community-building elements.
Strategize
LeaderCast and Zenith Labs developed a strategy to build a digital platform that would engage leaders globally. The strategy included modules for education, interactive challenges, networking, and points-based systems to encourage participation. With gamification at its core, the platform aimed to turn learning and engagement into a shared adventure, allowing leaders to earn badges, level up, and connect with peers. By providing both educational resources and opportunities for social interaction, LeaderCast sought to create a dynamic, year-round community that went beyond the annual event.
Scale
With the expertise of Zenith Labs, LeaderCast rolled out the community platform in phases, starting with a core group of users to gather feedback. The platform featured educational content, networking groups, and challenges where members could earn rewards for engagement. LeaderCast also integrated live sessions with speakers, interactive forums, and direct messaging options to foster organic connections and idea-sharing. By making these features accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, they ensured that leaders worldwide could stay connected regardless of location.
Execute
Following a successful pilot, LeaderCast expanded the platform to the full audience of 100,000 leaders. Zenith Labs worked closely with LeaderCast to ensure a seamless rollout, building excitement and encouraging participation through targeted communications. As more members joined, LeaderCast introduced new challenges, leaderboards, and content to keep the experience fresh and engaging. This scaling strategy transformed the once-fragmented audience into a cohesive, global community united by shared goals and values.
Sustain
To maintain momentum, LeaderCast embedded continuous engagement mechanisms within the platform. Zenith Labs helped establish a regular cadence of new content, community challenges, and live events to keep members actively involved. LeaderCast also launched initiatives where members could contribute their own content, creating a sense of ownership and fostering peer-to-peer learning. This sustained engagement ensured the community remained a valuable resource and a go-to destination for leaders year-round.
Outcomes of our framework
This is how our OBSESS framework helped them with some
amazing outcomes
The platform transformed LeaderCast’s audience into a unified network of leaders who were actively connected, engaged, and participating in discussions and challenges. Members felt part of a larger mission, sharing ideas and experiences that enriched their leadership journeys.
Leaders from across the globe began connecting and building meaningful relationships, exchanging insights, and collaborating on challenges. This network effect fostered an environment of shared learning and mutual support, making the community an invaluable resource for members.
With year-round engagement, LeaderCast’s audience developed a deeper affinity for the brand, feeling invested in its mission and values. Members expressed increased commitment to returning to future events and a desire to contribute actively, both in the community and at the annual gathering.
