Looking back on 10 years of EdOdyssey: Core Values That Guide Us
“All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.” – Simon Sinek, Start with Why
This month, we’re thrilled to be celebrating EdOdyssey’s 10th anniversary!
For us—and our students whose lives we are proud to have touched through the years—it has been an epic adventure, marked by incredible growth, unforgettable escapades, and life-long friendships forged along the way. As on any odyssey, there have been challenges, difficult moments, times when we’ve had to put our problem-solving skills to the test, and plenty of changes, but we have not lost our way.
We have not strayed from our path or our mission because EdOdyssey President and Founder, Peter McGovern, started with “why” and those same core values he believed in a decade ago have remained our guiding light. “Has it been easy,” he asked. “No. Have there been challenges? Of course. Has it been worth it? Absolutely.”
EdOdyssey: Celebrating Our Journey
In August 2014, Peter founded EdOdyssey, shifting his career path from teacher to entrepreneur.
Bolstered by his experience creating custom study abroad programs for his high school and middle school students and inspired by his own international studies in Spain, Peru, and China, Peter had a solid background to support his vision.
As the sole employee, Peter launched programs in just two countries at first. He was motivated by his belief in the transformative power of travel and his “why” which was (and still is) in his words, “to create a more connected and compassionate world through authentic educational immersion programs for students.”
He understood what became, and remains, a motto for EdOdyssey: “Travel changes people. People change the world.”
This year, as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, EdOdyssey has 30+ employees and runs programs in almost a dozen countries. Most importantly, over the past decade, we’ve helped thousands of students travel millions of miles to participate in thoughtfully crafted programs with common threads of authenticity and compassion running through each unique itinerary.
Core Values: A “Why” That Has Remained the Same
Not long ago, Peter stumbled on his original business plan, written in April 2014, just four months before the official launch of EdOdyssey. “As I read through it, it was pretty surreal to reflect on how far we've come as a company and how the journey has shaped me as a person, professional, entrepreneur, founder, and leader,” he said. “While a lot has changed since this original business plan was written, I’m proud that through our growth and evolution, we’ve never lost sight of the original mission and vision.”
Our “how” has evolved with the times and as our expertise has expanded, but our “why” has remained constant. Over the past decade, EdOdyssey has been guided by these same four core values:
Authenticity: We seek to create authentic experiences with our students and authentic connections with our partners.
Kindness: We are good to each other, our clients, and the world.
Passion for Travel: We believe in the transformative power of travel.
Lifelong Learning: We are educators who are as eager to learn as we are to teach.
Peter’s Six Key Lessons For Life
Speaking of learning, entrepreneurship has taught Peter a lot—not only lessons that are applicable to business but to life.
In celebration of this significant milestone (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 34.7% of businesses make it to 10 years!), Peter has shared six of these important lessons that we can all take on board, no matter what our employment status:
1. Invest in relationships: People and community matter. Surround yourself with amazing people. I could not have achieved what I have without my advisors, mentors, employees, friends, and family.
2. Start with a plan and remember purpose: Every great venture begins with a clear plan, and when you have a clear vision and mission, you'll be able to weather any storm and stay focused on what really matters.
3. Hard work pays off: Success rarely comes without putting in the hard work. Don’t get distracted by shortcuts. Consistent effort and determination pay off, and today is the best day to start.
4. Never stop learning: The world is constantly changing; stay curious and constantly seek new knowledge and skills.
5. Practice self-care and mindfulness: Taking care of your mental and physical health is essential to success. For me, this means spending time in nature, meditation, yoga, gym, and my plant-based diet.
6. Mistakes are part of success: Every challenge and failure is a learning opportunity. Embrace them; this is where wisdom comes from.
Be a Part of Our Next 10 Years!
If our mission and values resonate with you, then you know as we do that your students would benefit from an immersive educational travel experience! If you’d love to make it happen for them, reach out and share your vision and your “why.” Let’s start a conversation.
