Additional Coverage:
- I got laid off from Google, then found out I was pregnant. Going from DINK to self-employed has felt like the wild west. (businessinsider.com)
Shanon Morris, a Navy veteran and entrepreneur based in Ithaca, New York, has charted an inspiring path from military service to tech industry leadership and now to pioneering travel solutions for new and expecting parents. As co-founder and CEO of Trimester Abroad, Morris is redefining how families experience travel during pregnancy and early parenthood.
Morris’s career began as a surface warfare and public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy before a medical separation in 2018 following a car accident.
She then transitioned to civilian roles, including cyber intelligence and communications consulting, before joining Google in 2021. At Google, she held various leadership positions, notably spearheading the company’s veteran hiring initiatives.
In March 2023, Morris faced an unexpected turning point when she was laid off from Google. Alongside her husband Matthew, a Marine Corps veteran navigating his own career changes, the couple confronted unemployment while preparing to welcome their first child. Despite the challenges, their shared values and financial planning provided stability.
Inspired by a close friend’s guidance on alternative birthing options, Morris and her family embarked on extensive travels across North America and Europe, seeking a birth experience aligned with their values. Ultimately, Morris gave birth at home in Chicago and resumed traveling with her young daughter, visiting 28 countries to date.
Through these experiences, Morris recognized significant gaps in the travel and hospitality industries regarding accommodations for pregnant travelers and families with infants. Many hotels lack appropriate amenities, and staff often lack training in respectful interactions with expecting parents and young children. This insight led to the creation of Trimester Abroad, a venture that consults with travel providers, develops rating systems for family-friendly services, and is building an AI-powered platform to support new parents in travel planning.
Transitioning from a stable corporate salary to entrepreneurship has required resilience and reinvestment, with Morris and her husband balancing business development alongside academic pursuits. Their journey illustrates how military experience, parenting, and innovative entrepreneurship can intersect successfully.
Reflecting on her path, Morris acknowledges that without her layoff, she might have continued at Google. However, her priorities have shifted, and she is committed to advancing travel experiences that support parents and families on the move. Through Trimester Abroad, she is creating a more inclusive and thoughtful travel landscape for a growing community of travelers navigating pregnancy and early childhood.