Ronda Blair

My success in this industry really comes from having lived the experience myself. I started as a surrogate when I was going through a divorce and trying to make ends meet as a single mom. I found an ad in the newspaper and decided to carry a child for someone else. That personal journey gave me such a deep understanding and passion for this work that I knew I had to be part of it professionally. I completed two surrogate journeys, and during my second one, I transitioned into working in the field. What I've learned is that personal connections are absolutely huge in this industry. You need to have a lot of empathy and be able to provide support and understanding throughout the journey. Having that sales training has been important too, because it helps me make those personal connections with everyone. But I think the most important thing is being able to provide the empathy that's needed throughout the process. When I started in my first professional role, the other case manager was actually asking me questions because of my experience as a surrogate, and I was sharing what was needed from that perspective. That firsthand knowledge of what surrogates and intended parents go through has been invaluable in helping me support families through their journeys.

Work hard and find a career that you love. Always be honest and ethical.

The first thing I would say is that you need to have a lot of empathy. But you also need to know that it's not always sun and rainbows. There are difficult times, and a lot of people that come into this industry don't realize how difficult this job is. You're supporting an intended parent or a surrogate through struggles, and there are times when you're dealing with a difficult situation with one journey but you still have to manage the rest of them. So you're trying to juggle so many things all at one time. It's never a dull moment here, and it's never quiet or slow either. It's always non-stop from start of your day to end of your day and past that. You're also pretty much on call all the time. If a surrogate goes into labor early, or she's delivering, or she's having a miscarriage, you need to be able to be there for them too. It really is about being able to provide all the support and having the emotional resilience to handle the challenging moments alongside the joyful ones.

One of the biggest challenges we're seeing is that surrogates are asking for more and more money lately, and a lot of intended parents who are looking to do this type of process to grow their family, because it's their only option, financially can't do it anymore. That's a really difficult situation for everyone involved. Other challenges include when something negative happens, like a loss or a failed transfer. Some of the parents have been through this before, but the surrogates might not have ever been through that before, so they don't know how to handle it either. It's a lot of being able to provide all the support during those difficult moments. You're dealing with difficult situations while still having to manage all your other journeys at the same time, juggling so many things all at once. And because we're on call all the time for deliveries, early labor, or miscarriages, the demands are constant and require a lot of emotional resilience.

Building personal connections is at the heart of what I do. In this industry, relationships matter, and I take pride in providing support, empathy, and guidance throughout every journey. Whether things are progressing smoothly or unexpected challenges arise, I am there to help intended parents and surrogates navigate the process with confidence and care.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is supporting journeys that encounter difficulties along the way. Helping intended parents and surrogates work through obstacles, manage complex situations, and ultimately reach the moment when a healthy baby arrives makes all the challenges worthwhile. Being part of that transformation—from uncertainty to joy—is what inspires me every day.

Outside of work, I stay active and engaged in a variety of pursuits. I have been riding motorcycles for more than 10 years and am a member of a women-only social motorcycle riding group. I also compete in RC Crawler competitions and have won my division four times. My family and I enjoy boating and camping whenever we have the opportunity.

I am especially passionate about supporting and empowering young women. As my daughter's Girl Scout leader, I help foster confidence, leadership, and self-belief in the next generation. I am also involved with rugby development programs that focus on growing the sport and creating opportunities for athletes and communities to thrive.