Whether walking under cherry blossoms in Japan, exploring beneath the canopy of the Amazon rainforest in Peru, or hiking through the alpine forests in Italy, we look up in awe at the trees that surround us—strong, complex, and beautiful.

And that is EdOdyssey today, grown from the smallest sapling of an idea and, over the past decade, nurtured into a resilient, intricate, and wonderful business.

On those woodland walks, we might stumble upon a stump and attempt to count the rings—a nod to high school biology classes and one of many ways the world becomes our classroom. You’ll probably recall that, in dendrochronology—the scientific study of tree rings—each of these rings marks a year of growth. Thicker rings represent years when the tree was perfectly nurtured; thinner rings indicate more challenging times. Like a tree, a business—like EdOdyssey—also accumulates layers: years full of challenges and adaptation, years full of positive experiences and growth.

Supporting a tree’s structure is its foundation: the heartwood. For EdOdyssey, the heartwood is our core values, vision, and mission that have shaped and supported our business through the years. Here lies the connections and the meaningful relationships, many of which have turned into real friendships. “I’m incredibly proud of the collaborations and long-standing partnerships we’ve developed with schools, colleges, and universities across the country—with classroom teachers, study abroad directors, staff, heads of schools, and university presidents,” Peter McGovern, founder and president of EdOdyssey, said. “I’m humbled by the longevity of these relationships— a major driver of our growth. Many partners are eager to expand into new locations with us, and that’s a huge compliment to the work we do.”

And then, there is the sapwood: the living part of the tree that transports nutrients. Our sapwood is built of memories and stories that nurture us and keep us inspired, innovative, dynamic, and connected to our purpose.

Among so many memories and stories from the last decade, we asked Peter—in celebration of EdOdyssey’s 10th anniversary—to single out just three that have been especially impactful:

1. Launching the First EdOdyssey Program

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” — Lao Tzu

Running the first EdOdyssey program is, of course, one of Peter’s most prominent memories. He took a group of students from the US to China. This was the first time he executed the full process as EdOdyssey: connecting with the school, developing the program, prepping for departure, and finally actually being in China with the students where he was also the one leading the program.

Before this, as a teacher, Peter had organized study abroad programs for his own students, but this was a different school altogether—a real turning point, because it meant that his approach, values, and process resonated beyond his immediate network.

“In-country, I can still recall the students’ comments on the bus, reflecting on how awesome every moment had been, which reassured me that EdOdyssey would be a success,” Peter said. “By the end of the trip, the teacher was already talking about the following year, which felt incredible, especially knowing she had worked with many other providers.

A testimonial she gave years later still sticks with me: ‘EdOdyssey’s program was a perfect fit for our school. With nearly a decade of experience doing student exchanges, I have never encountered an initiative better run or more dedicated to education than EdOdyssey.’

This initial partnership became a very special friendship, and since then, we’ve worked with countless students from this school and developed programs in five or six countries.”

2. The First Time Hiring Full-Time Staff

“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” — Steve Jobs

EdOdyssey has expanded from a one-person show to a team of over 30 people who are spread across the country and the globe. Watching this growth has been one of Peter’s biggest highlights of the last decade. He remembers starting out solo, supported by friends and by his global network, and then reaching a point where a full-time staff was needed.

“This was a huge milestone,” Peter said. “I remember feeling a mix of excitement and the weight of responsibility that came with hiring those first employees. Now, I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by the most dedicated, smart, and driven professionals in our field. I couldn’t be happier or more impressed with the team I have today, and I’m thrilled to be welcoming even more people this year. Each and every person on the team is part of our success every day.”

3. Navigating the Pandemic

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

For many companies, organizations, and individuals, the pandemic was a turning point, but there’s no doubt that the field of travel and study abroad was hit hard. EdOdyssey was no exception.

“It wasn’t an exciting or happy time—there was tremendous uncertainty and stress—but I'm proud we stayed true to our core values,” Peter said. “While I hope we never face another challenge like that, I’m proud of how we weathered the storm. We managed to avoid layoffs, kept the team together, and emerged stronger. As a leader, this was also a tremendous growth period that I didn't ask for, but I can look back and be grateful now.”

In fact, ironically and despite the many challenges—from canceled programs to student evacuations to refunds—those tough moments during the pandemic actually strengthened our relationships with our clients and partners.

“I still remember one school administrator saying to me something like 'Hard times reveal true character, and when the pandemic passes, we'll still be working with EdOdyssey'. This was after three programs unfortunately had to be postponed. They were just so grateful for how we managed the situation,” Peter said. “Looking back, many of the seeds of challenge have blossomed into some of our most committed, trusted partnerships today.”

On to the next decade…

What we don’t see beneath the forest floor is the complexity of the tree roots. They anchor the tree firmly to the ground, absorb water and nutrients, spread out to seek new resources or adapt to difficult conditions, help the tree withstand storms, and connect with other trees to create a support network where there is space for collaboration. For this, EdOdyssey has Peter. He is not only a leader, but an anchor, a connector, and a visionary. He keeps EdOdyssey rooted in its mission while seeking out new opportunities, and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of study abroad.

Very recently, he enjoyed another special memory, marking the official start of EdOdyssey’s 10th year at a meet-up hosted by the Boston Area Study Abroad Association (BASAA) where a friend and former EdOdyssey team member surprised him with a champagne toast and a video featuring current employees, friends, family, clients, and many others.

“It was incredibly moving to hear how EdOdyssey has touched so many lives over the last decade,” Peter said. “To everyone involved in that video and to countless others, thank you. It was a powerful moment, and it meant the world to me. Here’s to the next 10 years!”

Be a part of our next decade of memories; ask us about how you can create a custom program with us!

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