Introduction
The Gathering Summit is more than just a conference; it’s a world-class event that unites 1,500 brand leaders, visionaries, and change-makers each year. Celebrated for its inspiring speakers, including icons like Gary Vaynerchuk, Brené Brown, and Tony Hawk, and its transformative experiences, the event sets the stage for meaningful innovation and connection. This year, Apex partnered with The Gathering to elevate both the attendee and speaker experience through our behavioral science-trained AI methodology, leveraging valuable feedback from past attendees to shape future experiences and deliver tangible insights at every level of the event.
Our Role
Apex wasn’t just a sponsor of The Gathering, we set out to transform the feedback experience for both speakers and attendees. Our goal was simple: deliver deep, customer experience insights that would elevate the event in real-time and provide a data-driven blueprint for future improvements.
We worked closely with The Gathering team to launch a preliminary survey sent to 850 past attendees. This survey didn’t just ask about event satisfaction, it delved deep into uncovering what attendees truly valued about their Gathering experience. The insights were powerful: attendees craved actionable takeaways, relevant content, and a seamless experience that felt personal, engaging, and effortless.
Embedding Apex's Into The Event Experience
But we didn’t stop there. Apex’s methodology centers on motivational research, and we know that real-time, in-the-moment feedback is key to improving experiences. So, we embedded our surveys directly into The Gathering app, allowing attendees to provide feedback immediately after each session.
Using push notifications, attendees were prompted to evaluate the session they had just watched based on three key criteria:
Relevance
Was the content valuable to them in their work?
Engagement
How engaging was the speaker in terms of delivery, energy, and preparation?
Actionability
Could they take something practical away from the session and apply it tomorrow?
This approach ensured we captured attendee sentiment while the experience was fresh in their minds, allowing us to deliver the kind of data that could truly move the needle.
Delivering Applicable Insights
Speakers received a personalized report packed with valuable insights on their session’s performance. These reports included both quantitative scores and qualitative feedback, focusing on the three criteria mentioned earlier: relevance, engagement, and actionability.
Despite speaking at hundreds of events, this was the first time I've received feedback like this. Providing real, actionable feedback to their speakers is awesome—and it should be the industry standard!
But what set these reports apart was the proprietary framework we used to benchmark each session’s results against the expectations of The Gathering’s attendees. This wasn’t just a standard post-event recap, it was a tailored analysis designed to help speakers understand how well they met their audience’s needs and how they could improve for next time.
Informing the Future
We also provided The Gathering with a comprehensive analysis of the attendee experience, highlighting what worked, what could be improved, and key insights to shape future events. This practical feedback gave the event a clear roadmap for enhancing future Gatherings, from refining logistical planning to creating a more inclusive and transparent experience.
Taking the Stage
In addition to our behind-the-scenes contributions, Apex founder Nick Bond took the stage to deliver the session “Who’s Really Telling Your Brand Story? Why Your Best Customers Should Be the Authors and How AI Can Turn Their Voices into a Killer Acquisition Strategy.”
The session was crafted to equip attendees with meaningful, strategic insights they could apply immediately to their businesses, a focus shaped by feedback from past attendees who emphasized their desire for practical, real-world content.
Takeaways
By embedding Apex’s insights into The Gathering, we didn’t just add value to this year’s event, we set the stage for future growth. Here’s how Apex made an impact:
For Attendees
We provided a clear, efficient way for attendees to voice their opinions and shape the event experience.
For Speakers
Our detailed evaluations gave speakers real, prescriptive insights that allowed them to improve their delivery and content for future events.
For the Event
We delivered a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the event, giving The Gathering a blueprint for growth and improvement for years to come.
Experience the Survey We Designed for The Gathering Yourself!
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