From Wall Street to wombs: How one woman built a surrogacy empire

Angela Richardson-Mook started her career in finance before becoming a surrogate at 26. Over 13 years, she carried six babies for three different families. Now, she runs a successful surrogacy agency while balancing work and family life. Richardson-Mook first worked in corporate roles, including a position as Vice President of Program Operations at Bank of America. There, she managed a team of 100 people. Later, she moved into consulting, leading technology projects as Chief Project Management Officer at a financial firm.

At 26, she decided to become a surrogate for the first time. By then, she already had three children of her own and was studying nursing. Over the next 13 years, she carried six babies for three families. In 2019, she founded Alcea Surrogacy, an agency focused on ethical surrogacy practices. The business has since grown to 23 employees and expanded into four main areas. Today, it generates $5 million in annual revenue. Richardson-Mook now earns more from her agency than she did in her highest-paying corporate job. Despite her busy schedule, she still makes time for her family, including her youngest child, a toddler. Often, she works late into the night to keep everything running smoothly.

Alcea Surrogacy continues to grow, with 23 staff and $5 million in yearly revenue. Richardson-Mook’s shift from finance to surrogacy has proven both personally and financially rewarding. She remains committed to balancing her business with her role as a mother.