The client

TE Connectivity is an American-Swiss technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of electrical and electronic products for industries like automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, and energy.

For over 80 years, TE engineers and product specialists have collaborated with customers to create advanced connectivity and sensing solutions, driving the vision of a connected world. With a strong emphasis on reliability, durability, and sustainability, TE Connectivity embodies a commitment to innovation and progress. Their extensive product portfolio empowers companies of all sizes to transform ideas into technologies that shape the future.

With a global workforce of 90,000 employees, including over 8,000 engineers, TE Connectivity serves customers in 140 countries.

The Challenge

Once a year, TE Connectivity hosts a 2 week-long series of virtual events designed to inspire employees to pursue personal and professional growth. The sessions have been successful, receiving strong ratings and positive feedback from the workforce.

However, in the fall of 2023, Jennifer Allen from TE Connectivity envisioned elevating the event by introducing a gamified experience called Grow@TE Games. She reached out to LeadUp brainstorming on the possibility of building a customized platform to support an ongoing employee development journey. The concept involved teams of 8-10 people engaging in weekly challenges designed to integrate new behaviors and mindsets, fostering growth both in their careers and personal lives.

The ultimate goal was to create a gamified holistic experience, where teams during their workday could come together and solve simple yet impactful challenges that was centered around the topics of Inclusion, Collaboration, Wellbeing and Empowerment.   

Our solution

TE Connectivity and LeadUp initially explored existing IT platforms to find one that could support all the functional requirements for the Grow@TE Games. However, after a month of research and discussions with software companies, it became clear that existing platforms would require additional functionality to meet TE’s specific needs.

Instead, LeadUp proposed expanding their existing platform, and over four months, all necessary functionalities were built and tested to support the Grow@TE Games 2024. The enhanced platform featured weekly challenges, an advanced feed, a global scoreboard, support for 14 languages, and gamification elements that allowed each team to track their progress and see their rankings within their country, business unit, and site. Grow@TE Games successfully launched in April 2024, and here’s a quick overview of the platform’s key components:

The impact

“

With 32,000 employees from 41 countries on the LeadUp platform, teams of 8-10 employees competed in weekly challenges available in 14 languages. Throughout Grow@TE Games, they gained deeper insights into Inclusion, Collaboration, Empowerment, Wellbeing and Team Leadership.

 

The feedback exceeded our expectations. 90% of participants reported experiencing a heightened sense of inclusion, collaboration, and empowerment over the three-week period. 90% explored new ways to practice wellbeing, both within their teams and at home. Additionally, 91% shared that the Games provided valuable opportunities for learning and team bonding.

 

For HR in TE Connectivity, it was insightful to explore all the photos and updates posted by teams from all over the World as they completed each challenge. The enthusiasm, curiosity, and inspiration displayed throughout the three-week gamified journey underscored the strong desire within our organization to become more collaborative and to further enhance wellbeing for our people both in the workplace and in their personal life.

 

/ Jennifer Allen, Global Head of Leadership, TE Connectivity 

“

Our Collaboration

TE Connectivity and LeadUp initially explored existing IT platforms to find one that could support all the functional requirements for the Grow@TE Games. However, after a month of research and discussions with software companies, it became clear that existing platforms would require additional functionality to meet TE’s specific needs.

Instead, LeadUp proposed expanding their existing platform, and over four months, all necessary functionalities were built and tested to support the Grow@TE Games 2024. The enhanced platform featured weekly challenges, an advanced feed, a global scoreboard, support for 14 languages, and gamification elements that allowed each team to track their progress and see their rankings within their country, business unit, and site. Grow@TE Games successfully launched in April 2024, and here’s a quick overview of the platform’s key components: