Empowering Global Ambassadors: How BrandChamp Streamlined EF High School Exchange Year's Program

Overview

EF High School Exchange Year (EFHSEY) helps students immerse themselves in different cultures by facilitating year-long exchange programs. Over time, their ambassador program has become a core component of their mission, encouraging current, upcoming, and former exchange students to share their experiences and inspire future participants. However, as the program grew, so did the complexity of managing a diverse group of ambassadors, each with unique experiences.

“Before BrandChamp, managing the program was overwhelming. We struggled to organize activities and distribute rewards in a way that felt relevant to our ambassadors. BrandChamp changed all of that. The platform’s automation and targeting features allowed us to streamline the process, ensuring every ambassador received activities and rewards that truly resonated with their experiences.”

Julie Colloca, Ambassador Program Manager at EF High School Exchange Year

Since adopting BrandChamp, EFHSEY has seen remarkable results. Here is a snapshot of the program’s activity in 2024:

• 17,064 pieces of user-generated content (UGC) submitted by ambassadors, helping the brand boost leads and reach its target audience
• 4,641 Instagram shares and 3,339 TikTok shares, generating increased buzz on social media and expanding EF’s digital presence
• 773 online reviews shared by ambassadors, showcasing authentic program experiences from different perspectives across the globe

Why BrandChamp

Before adopting BrandChamp, EFHSEY relied on an in-house platform and CRM system, which required extensive manual work. Ambassador Coordinators had to manually input weekly data from various markets via email, tracking ambassadors’ accumulated points. Coordinating rewards, especially for international students, involved even more manual processes, adding to the complexity.

They also managed ambassador information and activities with Excel files, further increasing the administrative burden. Redeeming rewards, like gift cards, involved local coordinators reaching out to the central team in Zurich, creating a time-consuming and inefficient workflow.

The lack of automation and segmentation led to a disjointed ambassador experience, with activities and rewards feeling less relevant to the ambassadors, resulting in lower engagement.

Recognizing the need for a streamlined and scalable solution, EFHSEY chose BrandChamp to improve the efficiency of their ambassador program and enhance the experience. BrandChamp’s targeting capabilities allowed them to tailor activities and rewards to specific groups of ambassadors, significantly increasing engagement.

Conclusion

EF High School Exchange Year’s ambassador program has undergone a complete transformation with BrandChamp. By empowering its ambassadors with the right platform, EFHSEY created a scalable, emotionally resonant community and has set a new standard for global student engagement. The program’s success is a testament to the power of having the right tools to manage and grow an ambassador program.