Meet Ben Polansky: EdOdyssey’s New (and First!) COO
As EdOdyssey grows its reach and impact, we’re thrilled to welcome Ben Polansky as our first-ever Chief Operating Officer. With over a decade of leadership in youth travel and experiential education, Ben brings deep industry insight, a passion for purpose-driven work, and a clear vision for scaling our mission. We sat down with Ben for a quick Q&A to learn more about what fuels his work and what lies ahead.
EDODYSSEY: Welcome on board as EdOdyssey’s new (and first!) COO. What are three things you’d love for our partners to know about you as you settle into this leadership role?
BEN POLANSKY: First, I care deeply about people — our team, our partners, and the students we serve. I want the systems I build to reflect that.
Second, I bring a balance of big-picture vision and operational discipline. I’ve helped grow mission-driven organizations from scrappy to scalable, and I love rolling up my sleeves to strengthen strategy, structure, and culture.
Third, I believe in keeping things human. We’re in the business of transformation through connection — and that requires humility, empathy, and a little humor along the way.
EO: Where does your interest in travel and international education stem from and how has this shaped your career so far?
BP: It started when I was 14 and joined my dad on a work trip to Kenya. We spent time in Nairobi with local families and then traveled to the Masai Mara, where I had the chance to live alongside Masai warriors and learn about their way of life. That experience changed everything for me. It opened my eyes to cultures, values, and histories so different from my own — and planted the seed that travel is one of the most powerful forms of education.
As I grew older, that understanding deepened. Through my own experiences as a traveler, educator, and human, I came to see how transformational travel can be — and how unequally access to it is distributed. For the past 15 years, I’ve dedicated my career to equity in youth travel, working to close that gap and create meaningful opportunities for young people to connect with the world and themselves through immersive, community-based experiences.
EO: Why is student educational travel so important?
BP: Because it meets young people at a moment when they’re still forming who they are — and invites them to see themselves and the world differently. It builds curiosity, empathy, and perspective that no classroom can replicate. When done well, it can shift not just minds, but life paths.
EO: We work in an evolving field. Can you point to any trends or challenges you see in the pipeline of educational travel that you think EdOdyssey is particularly well-positioned to address?
BP: Yes — three things come to mind.
First, institutions are increasingly looking for deeper student impact and value alignment in their partnerships — not just logistics. That’s EdOdyssey’s sweet spot.
Second, faculty and administrators are facing mounting logistical pressure. Our full-service, high-touch model is built to relieve that burden so they can focus on the learning.
And third, students today are looking for experiences that feel meaningful, not manufactured. EdOdyssey’s programs feel rooted — in people, place, and purpose.
EO: What initially drew you to EdOdyssey and what are you most excited about as you join the team?
BP: I was drawn to the company’s heart — and its potential. EdOdyssey has built something special: high-integrity programs, strong university relationships, and a passionate team. I’m excited to help sharpen the strategy, streamline the systems, and scale the vision in a way that stays grounded in our values.
EO: What are some key priorities you're focusing on in your first six months as COO?
BP: Right now, I’m focused on strengthening the systems and structures that will help EdOdyssey grow while staying true to what makes us special. That includes:
Improving our outreach and enrollment process so students and partners have a clear, consistent, and supportive experience from the first conversation
Sharpening our financial strategy to make sure we can continue offering high-quality, transformative travel programs in a sustainable way
Streamlining program operations to ensure every trip — whether in Peru, Italy, or Japan — runs smoothly and reflects our values on the ground
Doubling down on risk management so families and university partners can feel confident we’re prepared, responsive, and always student-centered
Investing in our team culture so staff feel connected, supported, and proud of the work we’re doing together
Ultimately, it's all about building smart, thoughtful systems that let us scale our impact — without ever losing the human touch.
EO: What’s something that has surprised or delighted you about EdOdyssey so far?
BP: The level of heart and hustle. This team is scrappy, smart, and sincerely student-centered — and it shows up in how they show up for each other and for our partners.
EO: Do you have any tips from your personal or professional travels that would be useful for first-time faculty leaders to take on board?
BP: Yes — let the unexpected be part of the learning. Not everything will go according to plan, and that’s okay. Your presence, your openness, and your ability to model reflection in the moment will shape students’ experience more than any single activity ever could.
EO: Have you had any travel experiences that you consider shaped your own identity.
BP: Two stand out. Studying abroad in Madrid and living with a multigenerational Spanish host family during college showed me how deeply community and culture are intertwined — and how much there is to learn by slowing down and truly living in a place. After graduating, I spent six months backpacking and working as an adventure travel guide through Central and South America — from coastal villages in Costa Rica to mountain towns in Chile. I lived alongside activists and educators, climbed peaks, and sat in homes I never imagined I’d enter. Those experiences opened my eyes to lives and perspectives I hadn’t known existed — and they grounded my belief that before you can change the world, you have to take time to know it. That’s at the heart of what we do at EdOdyssey: creating space for students to build empathy, humility, and connection across borders.
EO: If you could study abroad with EdOdyssey yourself, which of our destinations would you choose and why?
BP: Peru — without a doubt. I’ve had the chance to travel there, but spending a full semester (or even a year) would be a dream. The depth of history, the vibrancy of the culture, and the way people are connected to land, tradition, and community is unlike anywhere else I’ve been.
Peru is also grappling with a lot of the same big questions other Latin American countries are facing — around equity, climate, development, and identity. Being able to meet and learn alongside the people doing that work on the ground would be an incredibly powerful experience, especially for students trying to make sense of their place in the world. It’s a place where education doesn’t just happen in the classroom — it’s everywhere: in the cities, villages, on the mountains, and around every shared meal.
