From Lived Experience to Leading Change: Championing Safe, Ethical Surrogacy Worldwide

The global surrogacy sector has often struggled to keep pace with the evolving needs of surrogates and intended parents—especially as fertility rates shift and family-building journeys become ever more complex. Drawing deeply from their own path to parenthood via surrogacy, Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis founded My Surrogacy Journey: a purpose-led, values-centered organisation dedicated to bridging critical gaps in support and advocacy. As MSJ moves toward becoming the world’s leading surrogacy agency by 2027, we sat down with Michael and Wes—recently recognised in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2026—to hear how their personal story continues to inspire positive change for families everywhere.

Setting the global standard for surrogacy and modern family building, My Surrogacy Journey (MSJ) exists to ensure that every family-building journey is grounded in compassion, transparency, and expert care. The not-for-profit organisation was founded with the goal of creating a world where ethical surrogacy and modern family building thrive, championing the belief that everyone has the right to build their family, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, or fertility history.

With physical offices in Mexico City and operations spanning the UK, Mexico, and the US, MSJ is a truly global organisation. Furthermore, it is the only organisation in its field with fully established legal entities in every country it operates in, ensuring all offered pathways are not only ethical and safe, but also legally secure and transparent. With this extended global footprint, MSJ supports intended parents and surrogates across borders, navigating complex legal, clinical, and emotional landscapes with the utmost confidence and care.

The MSJ team reflects this international perspective, bringing together expertise and lived experience from diverse backgrounds and cultures. More than 90% of the team have personal surrogacy backgrounds, whether having been surrogates themselves or intended parents. This ensures that the organisation’s emotional support is as robust as its clinical care, with support, empathy, and guidance that is anchored in real, lived experience. This is what truly sets MSJ apart in the surrogacy landscape: being built from the ground up by intended parents and surrogates, for intended parents and surrogates.

The story of My Surrogacy Journey’s establishment began in a deeply personal place. When Wes and Michael Johnson-Ellis first embarked on their surrogacy journey in 2016, they were discharged from the trusted space of their fertility clinic and soon discovered that their NHS hospital did not understand them, their family, or surrogacy at all. A time that should have been an exciting and affirming experience quickly became one of exclusion, misunderstanding, and – at times – outright discrimination.

“One moment that has stayed with us was our first scan,” Michael recalled. “Caroline, our surrogate, had clearly explained to the team that we were the dads waiting outside. Despite this, the sonographer called our names across the waiting room and then said, ‘Only the real dad is allowed in here.’ Our hearts sank. It was humiliating, upsetting, and immediately made it clear that if we wanted to be part of our own pregnancy, we would have to fight to be seen and respected.”

This experience deteriorated even further when Michael and Wes met their original consultant. He focused exclusively on what the couple could not do: attend appointments, access the maternity ward, or even be present at the birth of their own child. Caroline was repeatedly referred to as “mum” despite continuous corrections, and they were told that the handover of their baby would need to happen off NHS property due to fears around human trafficking. This devastated the pair, who only wished to be present at the birth of their first child.

With the support of a remarkable Lead Midwife, who was astonished to hear of their experience, Michael and Wes requested a new consultant and sought legal advice. The legal assessment concluded that the Trust had breached 12 counts of the Equality Act, though litigation was never the goal. Instead, they made a conscious decision to transform their pain into progress. They offered to drop any legal action if they could work alongside the Lead Midwife and their new consultant to create an inclusive surrogacy pathway – not only for their family, but every family to follow.

This policy was introduced in late 2016, shortly after the birth of their daughter, Talulah. The birth was everything Michael and Wes had hoped for; the pair were welcomed in theatre to meet their daughter for the first time, alongside Caroline’s husband. When they returned in 2019 for the birth of their son, Duke, the family were supported by the same clinical team. This time, they found no need for explaining, justifying, or fear – only encountering compassion, celebration, and equality.

Following its introduction, Wes and Michael’s policy was shared across the North of England and discussed at senior midwifery strategy meetings. Eventually, it contributed to national guidance, and, in 2018, the pair were invited to help shape Gov.UK guidance for healthcare professionals on inclusive surrogacy care. Soon enough, Michael and Wes had successfully created a positive pathway out of what had been a deeply painful period of their journey.

Today, Michael and Wes serve as Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of My Surrogacy Journey, taking a role that is both strategic and truly personal. The pair oversee the overall direction of the organisation, keeping its operations entirely aligned with their mission to set the global standard for surrogacy and modern family building, ensuring the process is genuinely supportive for everyone involved. This comprises setting the vision, shaping long-term strategy, and making sure their values are embedded in every aspect of the organisation.

On a practical level, their responsibilities span leadership of the senior team, governance, and compliance; establishing and maintaining external partnerships; brand and community advocacy; and constant innovation in improving the surrogacy journey for intended parents and surrogates alike. Alongside this, the CEOs are particularly hands-on when it comes to listening – whether to their members, team, or their wider community – because meaningful progress can only stem from understanding real, lived experiences.

“Our guiding philosophy is simple but non-negotiable: people-first, always,” Wes stated. “We believe that if we do the right thing ethically and humanly, even when it is harder or slower, long-term success will follow. A mantra that underpins our daily work is ‘lead with integrity, build with empathy, and never lose sight of why this matters.’ We started this journey because we wanted to create something better than what existed, and that sense of responsibility continues to guide every decision we make.”

Making the transition from Directors to CEOs was not without its challenges, requiring the pair to embrace new strategic mindsets, develop advanced leadership skills, and adapt to overseeing a rapidly growing international organisation. On a personal level, Michael and Wes have grown as individuals – learning to delegate, trust their expanding team, and stay true to their mission even as the business scales – but have found ongoing professional development and a willingness to learn the keys to overcoming these obstacles.

This is prioritised across the MSJ team, with the recognition that the team’s growth directly impacts the quality of care it provides. Michael and Wes regularly invest in training, with an emphasis on supporting different learning styles and ongoing progression. “As Co-CEOs, we play an active role in maintaining this culture,” Michael added. “Culture isn’t something you set once and walk away from; it’s shaped daily through behaviour, communication, and decision-making. We also lead by example, holding ourselves to the same standard we expect of our team.”

This progressive approach has enabled MSJ to reach new heights of success, and the organisation has no intention of slowing its momentum. The launch of its Mexico City office and pathway has generated unprecedented global interest, a strategic pivot that has enabled the team to enhance its products, services, and global standards, to fuel accelerated growth. In April 2026, MSJ’s Mexico City office will relocate to a state-of-the-art Global HQ in Polanco, featuring an obstetric monitoring suite, pregnancy yoga studios, prenatal education, and a Wellbeing and Nutrition Hub – a first for the sector.

Michael and Wes were also recently named on The Diversity Power List 2025, a prestigious recognition honouring the UK’s most influential leaders in inclusion, diversity, and equity. Their company is on track to become the global leader in surrogacy journeys by the end of 2026, based on the number of families supported annually.

The organisation’s full-time headcount grew from ten in 2024 to 95 by the end of 2025, with a target of over 100 global team members by April 2026. Revenue has doubled year-on-year since 2021, with forecasts of $8 million USD for the 2025/26 financial year and a target exceeding $20 million USD for 2026/27. This remarkable growth will, of course, be steered by the expert hands of Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis, as they continue to prove their well-deserved status as the Most Influential CEOs 2026 for Global Surrogacy Services.

Contact Details

Contact: Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis

EA: Grace Broome-Phillips [email protected]

Company: My Surrogacy Journey

Web Address: www.mysurrogacyjourney.com