We recently connected with Diana Olmeda and have shared our conversation below.
Diana, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
Starting my company at 25 and being a mom to 2 children had its own challenges. I was breaking into a field I was not very familiar with, there weren’t many other companies like mine and it was a fairly new and specialized industry. Over the years I have met obstacles head-on, learned from them, grown and gained much experience. There’s nothing quite like being your own boss, but along with that comes a greater responsibility and an on-call job that you are dedicated to 24/7. I have definitely thought about what it would have been like to have a normal 9 to 5 job, have weekends and evenings to myself and not have the pressure being your own boss carries. I can honestly say, whole-heartedly that I wouldn’t change the path my life has taken or the time I invest in helping others create their families.
Diana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I have been a surrogate twice and an egg donor five times. I grew up with close family friends who struggled with infertility due to the intended mother having health issues. I had two daughters of my own and absolutely loved being pregnant. The idea of being able to help someone else become a parent intrigued me and I felt it was my calling in life. Starting Surrogate Alternatives, Inc. (SAI) was a huge venture, but I knew if I was going to dedicate my life to a career, why not one that changes lives! I have been fortunate to meet many people in the last 23 years who I have learned from and who I am blessed to get to work with. The field of third-party reproduction has changed so much over the years and I can honestly say I was there when IVF changed the world of parenting as we know it!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Looking back it still seems so surreal that I started Surrogate Alternatives, Inc. (SAI) on a $5,000 bank loan. I gave them the title to my car and used that seed money to build my company into what it is today. We have employed countless people over the years and have been a part of the creation of over 3,500 children. Our surrogates and egg donors are true angels on earth and I am honored to have been a part of each new family created.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
We have good relationships with professionals we have worked with in our industry and they will recommend Surrogate Alternatives, Inc. (SAI) to their clients, so I would say it would be referrals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.surrogatealternatives.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saiagency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAICorp/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saiagency/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/saicorp
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Surro4life
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/surrogate-alternatives-chula-vista-5