Meet Morgan Ramsey

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Morgan Ramsey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Morgan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose after hitting a “now what” moment in my life. At 25, I was working at Google as a User Experience Researcher. I had achieved everything I thought I was supposed to strive for – I landed “the job” at “the company” after graduating from “the school”, living “the life” I had always envisioned. Yet, despite having everything I had worked so hard for, I felt unfulfilled. I felt disconnected from myself.

That’s when I met an Executive Leadership Coach, Bryant Alexander (Reframe Coaching & Consulting), who asked me a single question that changed my life: “Who are you outside of your accomplishments?”

That question hit me like a ton of bricks. Until that moment, my identity had been deeply tied to my achievements – especially academic ones. I had always excelled in areas where success was expected of me, but who was I beyond those accomplishments?

To answer his question, I had to look far back before the titles, degrees, and awards. I returned to my earliest memories, to a time when I expressed myself freely through art and creativity. I was a storyteller.

As a child, storytelling was my greatest joy. I wrote plays, poems, and even published novels. I performed in local musicals and competed as a classical pianist, winning regional competitions and performing at Carnegie Hall at just 15 years old. Creating and sharing stories was how I connected with the world.

But my storytelling wasn’t limited to the page or the stage. It showed up most profoundly in my love for travel. For me, travel was never just about sightseeing—it was about immersing myself in communities, listening deeply, and amplifying voices that often went unheard.

At 16, I embodied this mission by moving alone to the Dominican Republic’s countryside to live with a local family. At the time, I noticed there was a policy that had revoked Haitian Dominicans of their citizenship, and I felt compelled to understand their experiences firsthand. With no running water or electricity, I lived alongside the people most affected, listening to their stories. When I returned home, I didn’t just recount my experience, I advocated for solutions and raised awareness within my community.
This passion to amplify unheard voices has guided me across the world —from living on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona to connecting with Indigenous communities in Tlaxcala, Mexico; from Dublin, Ireland, to Lisbon, Portugal, and over 35 countries in between.Through these journeys, I began to see travel as an art form—an opportunity to design experiences that help people connect with the world, with others, and with themselves in transformative ways.

That answer led me to my purpose: to help people explore the world in ways that inspire meaningful change within themselves and the communities they encounter.

With this new purpose, I began designing travel experiences for my friends and family. As word spread, I expanded my services beyond individuals to businesses, partnering with brands and professionals to plan wellness and creative retreats worldwide.

The feedback was powerful – our guests described these journeys not as simple getaways, but as transformative experiences—moments that helped them rediscover themselves while driving deeper understanding and positive impact within the communities they visited.

In the end, my journey to find my purpose brought me full circle—to storytelling, but in a new form. Now, I tell stories through travel, designing experiences that help others see the world, create meaningful change, and discover deeper truths about themselves.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the Founder and CEO of Tela, a travel design studio for visionaries. We help creative brands and entrepreneurs deepen their connection with their communities through meaningful small group travel experiences.

At Tela, we believe travel is art—and our name reflects that. Tela, the Portuguese word for “canvas,” represents our core philosophy: every journey is a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with stories, emotions, and transformative moments.

We are redefining the travel space with an innovative approach that goes beyond traditional itineraries. We help you craft immersive travel experiences that engage all five senses—inviting you to step outside your routine and into someone else’s narrative.
From brand trips and writing retreats to cultural immersions and wellness escapes, we help you curate private group experiences that transform travel into a powerful tool for community building—each journey thoughtfully designed to inspire growth, connection, and rediscovery

In spring 2025, we are launching our community membership app designed to help creative entrepreneurs plan travel with ease. From discovering art-related events and networking opportunities to finding inspiring accommodations, community-building retreats, and more, we aim to be the ultimate travel hub for creatives.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities have been pivotal in my journey: Discipline, Empathy, and Curiosity.

Discipline: As a classical pianist, discipline was ingrained in me from a young age. Hours of practice, setbacks, and performances taught me a vital lesson: never give up. The path to mastery requires consistency, even when progress feels slow. The same applies to entrepreneurship. When I started building my company people thought it was strange—and honestly, that was a good sign. Why? Because people are often uncomfortable with what they don’t understand. Pursuing something unconventional means you’re likely on the edge of something meaningful.

My advice: Develop the habit of showing up every day, even when no one believes in your vision but you. Make that video. Launch that brand. Be okay with not having something “to show”, but never stop talking about your vision. Discipline isn’t about motivation—it’s about commitment. If you stay consistent, the results will follow.

Empathy has been one of my most powerful strengths, cultivated over a decade of experience as a User Experience Researcher at leading tech companies. At Google, my role was dedicated to designing products that serve all users, which naturally led me to focus on understanding and elevating the voices of marginalized groups. Listening to their experiences and advocating for their needs became not just a responsibility, but a mission. This work reinforced my belief that true impact stems from connecting with people on a deeply human level. However, empathy isn’t just for clients or customers—it’s also essential for self-awareness. It helps you reconnect with your purpose, make more thoughtful decisions, and lead with integrity.

My advice: Practice more than just active listening—ask insightful questions that allow you to truly walk in others’ shoes, whether it’s your clients, your team, or your partners. Ask more than you answer. In business, the deeper your understanding of people, the more profound and meaningful your impact will be.

Curiosity: If there’s one trait that I believe defines entrepreneurs, it’s curiosity. We see the world not just for what it is, but for what it could be. Entrepreneurs identify problems, connect the dots, and apply their skills—whether in project management, design, or data analysis—to create solutions. But here’s something most people miss: Before you get curious about the world, get curious about yourself. The best business ideas often come from solving problems you deeply care about.

My advice: Invest in your self-awareness. One of the most impactful ways to do this is by working with a leadership or executive coach. A Coach helps you uncover your values, strengths, and areas for growth. They guide you to ask, What problem do I care about solving? How can my unique skill set make a difference? When you align your passions with your abilities, your business becomes more than a venture—it becomes a mission.

Overall, Discipline will keep you going, Empathy will guide your impact and Curiosity will unlock your purpose. If you commit to cultivating these three qualities, you won’t just build a business—you’ll build something that matters

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely! At Tela, we’re always eager to collaborate with brands and entrepreneurs who share our vision of transforming the travel experience. We’re especially excited to partner with brands—particularly in beauty and wellness—creative professionals (artists, content creators, etc.), wellness entrepreneurs (yoga instructors, fitness experts, etc.), and organizations that believe in the transformative power of travel to inspire, connect, and uplift. If you are looking to plan an brand trip or retreat, please reach out to [email protected]. We would love to explore how we can collaborate.

Additionally, Tela is currently fundraising to expand our offerings and grow our community platform. Whether you’re interested in co-branding, co-hosting transformative travel experiences, or supporting our mission through investment, we’d be thrilled to connect with you.

Finally, we’re also hiring! If you’re passionate about travel and community, and want to join our marketing team or become a Trip Designer, we’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to email us directly at [email protected]. Let’s create something extraordinary together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wearetela.com
• Instagram: @tela.collective

Image Credits

Courtney Nuss