Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health’s separate marketing and communications teams combined in late 2022 to become Enterprise Marketing and Communications—the university and health system’s first integrated branding, communications, and marketing division. Breaking down silos and bridging multiple campuses to bring team members together were critical for the new division. This was especially true in a hybrid/remote-work world, where Zoom fatigue threatened to make everyone feel like pixelated avatars. So in 2023, the division created a new video series, stealing the name from Zach Galifianakis and calling it “Between 2 Rams.” This monthly, internal video series used personality, humor, and camaraderie to bring together a separated team. Hosted by the division vice president, each video featured a team member from a different part of the university or health system; the goal was to help employees learn more about their colleagues. From uncovering hidden talents (who knew the speechwriter played the fiddle?) to exploring campus on a two-person bike, Between Two Rams strove to create community…and succeeded. An end-of-the-year survey showed that: Two-thirds said the videos made them feel more engaged, and 80 percent asked that Between Two Rams continue in 2024. When asked what they liked about the videos, responses included “Learning things about my coworkers that I didn't know, and in some cases, learning about coworkers I really don't know at all” and “From a production-quality, length, and relevancy perspective, they are very well done.”
From the Judges
Between Two Rams used video to create a unique twist on the employee spotlight. Using different campus locations was a good idea, helping to kept cost down and showcase points of interest. Having their subjects showcase “hidden talents” was a different way to keep the interviews engaging.
