Can You Shift from a Cohort-Based Model to a Subscription Without Losing Community Engagement? With Marie Schacht, CEO of Akimbo
Episode description
In this episode, we’re hearing from Crumbling in Kansas, a dedicated community manager navigating a seismic shift: their EdTech company is transitioning from a beloved cohort-based program to a full-blown membership model. The move promises recurring revenue—but at what cost to community engagement?
To better help Crumbling in Kansas, I invited Marie Schacht — CEO of Akimbo— as my guest expert. I thought of Marie because back when everyone was just starting to create online courses, Marie, Seth Godin, and the team at Akimbo were trailblazers in the education-centric community design space, specifically for the cohort-based model.
Whether you’re managing a team-led transition, testing community strategy for online businesses, or wondering how to evolve your own digital communities, this conversation is for you. You’ll leave with practical tools, fresh perspective, and the reminder that experimentation is the name of the game in this ever-shifting world of online community building.
In this episode:
(02:56) A major tech fail during a live conference with 1,500 attendees
(06:21) The communitea: Crumbling in Kansas’ letter
(08:44) Defining cohort-based communities vs. membership communities
(12:08) The fears, grief, and power of letting go of a model you’ve mastered
(17:01) What to ask before pivoting your community strategy
(21:30) Can you test community retention strategies without burning it all down?
(26:45) Marketing engines and their impact on your paid community model
(30:57) When your CEO makes a decision you don’t agree with
(35:11) Designing inclusive online communities through dual formats
(40:13) The role of alumni in testing new models
(44:50) Having the hard conversation: a leadership guide for community creators
(50:20) The explosive growth of the community industry—and what that means for you
(55:48) Marie’s experiments: blending cohort energy with flexible design
(59:35) Staying grounded in your values while adapting your community leadership
Expect: Marketing strategy, community engagement tactics, and lots of support for community builders and community managers.
Resources Mentioned:
❤️ Signup for Heartbeat. Bri’s recommended all-in-one community platform.
💛 Join Ember. The place for go-getter community creators building community-powered businesses.
Marie Schacht:
🖥️ Website
Bri Leever:
🖥️ Website
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