ODEO Academy exists to bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving aspiring marketers the tools, confidence, and mindset to succeed in actual marketing roles.
As 2025 winds down, we’re taking a moment to celebrate, not just what we accomplished, but what you made possible. This year brought new courses, incredible student transformations, and real-world connections that reminded us why we do this work.
Before we peek ahead to 2026, let’s look back at what made this year unforgettable.
What Makes ODEO Different? It’s Where We Come From
Here’s the truth: ODEO Academy isn’t run by academics who’ve only studied digital marketing from textbooks. Every instructor teaching here runs live campaigns at Optidge, our digital marketing agency, or elsewhere.
They’re managing Google Ads budgets, optimizing LinkedIn campaigns, and solving real client challenges every single day.
What this means for you:
- Battle-tested insights, not theoretical concepts that fall apart in practice
- Learn how to troubleshoot campaigns when metrics suddenly drop
- Understand why certain strategies work based on actual results
- Develop a strategist’s mindset, not just memorize formulas
One student put it this way: “I finally understood how to connect campaign metrics to client goals. It wasn’t just about learning definitions, it was about thinking like a strategist”.
We don’t just teach you what buttons to click. We show you how to make smart decisions when there’s no clear playbook, how to pivot when campaigns underperform, and how to communicate results that matter to real businesses.
Innovation in Learning: Two Game-Changers We Launched This Year
AI Prompt Engineering 101: Making AI Actually Approachable
Let’s be honest, AI can feel intimidating. Between the hype and the jargon, it’s easy to feel lost before you even start. That’s exactly why we created our AI Prompt Engineering 101 course this year with a bold tagline: “This IS (Not) Your Mother’s AI Course”.
What students actually learn:
- Using ChatGPT and Gemini as practical work tools
- Writing better emails and brainstorming campaign concepts faster
- Analyzing data more efficiently
- Building confidence through hands-on experimentation
No fluff, no fake promises about AI “doing everything for you.” Just clear, actionable training on how to leverage these tools effectively.
The feedback? Students told us they finally felt confident experimenting with AI instead of avoiding it. One shared: “I went from being intimidated by ChatGPT to using it daily for content ideas and client communications”.
Post-Seminary Track: Bridging Faith and Digital Careers
This year, we also launched something deeply meaningful: our Post-Seminary Track, designed specifically for women completing faith-based education who want to transition into flexible digital marketing careers.
The program includes:
- Clear pathways into freelance, agency, or in-house marketing roles
- Digital Skills Bootcamp launching August 2025
- Foundational skills to start earning immediately
- Support for building client bases or joining marketing teams
This track represents what ODEO is all about: meeting people where they are and giving them practical tools to build the careers they want. The early response has been incredible, with students already mapping out their 2026 career launches.
Mini Case study – Blimi’s Journey: From Daycare to Digital Marketing
Background: After 15 years in Montreal’s daycare field, Blimi felt trapped at the top of her profession. “I felt like I reached the top and I was miserable,” she shared. When she convinced her daughter to take a copywriting course, she enrolled herself too.
The Pain Point: After landing a marketing role post-graduation, Blimi hit a wall. “The ads are beautiful, but I don’t know how well they’re doing or who they’re reaching.”
Despite her writing skills, she lacked digital marketing fundamentals, and described herself as “totally not on social media” and “not very tech-savvy.”
Finding ODEO: Blimi enrolled despite her doubts. The first two weeks were rough, she questioned whether it was right for her.
But ODEO’s supportive environment changed everything. “I was able to ask any dumb question. I was always made to feel good.”
The Results: Blimi doubled her income from day one, redesigned her client’s entire website, launched their social media presence from scratch, and built a blog. “I’m using my brain. I’m using creativity. I really love it.”
Community & Connection: Taking ODEO Beyond the Screen
Showing Up Where It Matters
This year, we stepped beyond our online classroom to connect with aspiring marketers face-to-face:
ODEO at the Career Path Summit
- Danny Gavin presented to young adults and career changers
- Focused on exploring digital marketing as a viable career path
- Reinforced our mission: empowering people who feel stuck about their next move
Our Team at The Course Expo
- Celebrated women in digital marketing
- Confirmed massive demand for flexible, skill-based learning
- Reminded us: people want opportunities, not just certificates
These events reinforced that digital marketing education isn’t just about uploading video lessons. It’s about building community, answering real questions, and showing people what’s possible when they invest in themselves.
Coming in 2026: Brand-New Social Media Management Course at ODEO Academy
In 2026, ODEO Academy is launching an all-new Social Media Management Course – developed in collaboration with a leading social media influencer and micro-agency owner with over 65K+ Instagram followers.
Together, we’re tailoring a professional, job-ready curriculum built specifically for aspiring social media managers. This course will teach students how to:
- Build content strategies that align with business goals
- Create clear, compelling content quickly
- Plan and manage full editorial calendars
- Write captions that convert
- Report, analyze, and optimize performance
It’s practical, industry-tested training designed for real client work – not trend-chasing, guesswork, or burnout.
More details to come…but trust us, you’ll want to be here for it.
Here’s to What We Built Together
To every student who enrolled, every person who shared ODEO with a friend, and every community member who showed up this year, thank you.
You’re the reason we keep innovating, teaching, and pushing to make digital marketing education better.
ODEO exists to equip learners not just with knowledge, but with the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in real-world marketing roles. As we head into 2026, we’re more committed than ever to that mission.
The best of ODEO? It’s still ahead of us. Let’s build it together.
Contact us and get your career in digital marketing started.