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By Teia Burroughs

It always starts with a moment — a shift, a shock, or a whisper that says: “This ain’t it.”

For Mattie Gaffney, that moment came in a steamy kitchen in Phoenix, Arizona, when her mother dropped a pot of hot greens on her foot — an accident that led to multiple skin graft surgeries, months of rehab, and a long road home. The care her mom received once discharged was underwhelming at best, unacceptable at worst. So Mattie, armed with zero healthcare experience but a commitment to the care of her mother, decided to step in.

And then? She stepped up.

What began as one daughter’s act of love transformed into a multi-million-dollar healthcare empire, now known as Abloom Healthcare — and Mattie hasn’t looked back since. She’s now on a mission to help thousands of overworked nurses, caregivers, and healthcare professionals escape burnout and step into the role of CEO with clarity, confidence, and coins to match.

But this isn’t just about business. It’s about generational wealth. It’s about community transformation. It’s about building empires in scrubs and reclaiming power in an industry that too often leaves Black women overworked and undervalued.

So yes — when Mattie Gaffney says she’s here to help you bloom, believe her.

We sat down with the powerhouse founder to talk about her incredible rise from caregiver to CEO, what it really takes to thrive in healthcare entrepreneurship, and why it’s time to bet on you.

Mattie Gaffney’s Blueprint for the Healthcare Boss-Up

SHEEN: Mattie, your story starts with something so personal — caring for your mom and advocating for your incarcerated brother. How did those experiences inspire your healthcare empire?

Mattie Gaffney: It was July 2019 when my mom dropped a pot of hot greens on her foot — she needed three surgeries, and after being released home, a care agency came in, but the care was… awful. Wounds weren’t cleaned, attention was sloppy, and I just thought — my mama deserves better. So I became her caregiver.

A friend suggested I start my own agency. I didn’t have a nurse, didn’t know the healthcare rules — but I did the research. I found a mentor, learned everything I could, and launched Abloom Healthcare.

At the same time, my brother — who’s serving 28 years — kept saying, “You help so many people. Why not help folks who are getting out of prison?” So I added a reentry segment to my mental health clinic, Mindful Minds Counseling. Now we’re helping returning citizens get therapy, rebuild their lives, and even become entrepreneurs.

SHEEN: Did you have a healthcare background before this?

Mattie: Not at all! My background was in corporate America — I worked in mortgage loan processing, underwriting, and as an operations manager at a mortgage servicing company. I come from a financial literacy and business background, not healthcare. I’ve never been a nurse or CNA. But I learned what I needed, surrounded myself with the right people, and taught myself the business from the ground up.

SHEEN: That’s a major pivot. Now you’re helping thousands of nurses do the same — what’s the biggest mindset shift you help them make?

Mattie: Easy. I always say: The owner will never pay you enough to live next door to them. Period.

Most nurses don’t realize hospitals make millions off their NPI numbers, off their labor. I teach them how to take those credentials and build their agencies. If you hire well and delegate, your money works while you sleep. You stop trading time for money — that’s the mindset shift.

SHEEN: This is Black Business Month, and your work is all about legacy. What does generational wealth mean to you?

Mattie: Inspiring before I expire. That’s it.

It means building businesses that live beyond me — that my kids can inherit, run, and grow. I want my children to have options: home care, mental health, non-emergency transport, mobile pain management — not just one lane. Wealth isn’t just income. It’s infrastructure.

SHEEN: You’ve scaled your businesses in an impressive timeframe — what were some of your biggest hurdles?

Mattie: People. Finding solid team members who can truly execute is tough. And then, it is normal to have some doubts. Folks would say, “You can’t run a clinic, you’re not a psychologist.” But I had to stay focused. I know the law. I know compliance. I’ve faced audits, billing inspections, and passed them all.

Also, tuning out distractions. People will try to talk you out of your purpose when they can’t see your vision. Keep building anyway.

SHEEN: You offer mentorship and coaching. What makes that so important in healthcare?

Mattie: Because this ain’t retail, sis — this is regulatory.

Your mentor should have theory, witness, and application. They should know billing, licensure, compliance, payer sources, marketing — everything. I give my mentees hands-on access. They fly in, shadow me, meet my team, and see the ops live. That’s the real difference.

SHEEN: What kind of programs do you offer?

Mattie: I meet people where they are. If you’re self-motivated, we have a $997 course. Want group coaching? That’s an option as well. Need one-on-one? That comes at a different rate, but I can do one-on-one also. Want to shadow me VIP style? I offer that too. We can talk and figure out the details, but there are different options at different levels.

Then we have conferences every 3-6 months. This most recent one in Houston had 400+ attendees, and it was very detailed and thorough. We cover everything — mental health, home care, group homes, contracts, and more.

SHEEN: What do you say to people who think starting a home care agency is just that — starting a home care agency?

Mattie: I say — that’s just step one.

You can add mental health, wound care, transport, and mobile pain management. I teach service stacking. The more services, the more streams. The more streams, the more stability. Don’t box yourself in — build a whole ecosystem.

SHEEN: What traits or values do people need to succeed in this space?

Mattie: Time. Patience. Integrity.

People want instant grits — but this ain’t that. I worked 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily when I launched. You also need to do things the right way. There’s fraud happening in some states — folks cutting corners. That’s not sustainable. Learn payer diversification, build real partnerships, and be legit.

SHEEN: You’re flying to Indiana for a mastermind. What’s happening there?

Mattie: Indiana had a Medicaid waiver boom — and a fraud explosion. Now the state is cracking down. I’m going to teach agency owners how to build real, legit businesses. Diversify, market like a pro, build like a franchise, but own it independently.

Healthcare changes fast — you have to be smart enough to know the systems that are in place and how to maneuver within them.

SHEEN: There are lots of moving parts and nuances to what you do and what you have built and continue to build. What grounds you in all of this?

Mattie: Impact. Seeing my students quit jobs, reclaim their time, and build six-figure agencies — that’s the win.

I don’t just teach — I educate. I create a real curriculum. I treat this like a university. Because if I’m helping you build your life’s work, I take that seriously. This is the purpose for me. I stand on what I teach.

SHEEN: So, tell me about the big upcoming event that you are hosting in Phoenix?

Mattie: This is going to be a big one, and it is going to be filled with so much information. The Phoenix Conference is October 11–12 at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale in Arizona, and guests will get to see it in action and learn how to start their journey. Come see it all for yourself — meet the team, meet the psychologist, see how it really works.

Ready to Bloom?

Follow Mattie Gaffney on Instagram or visit Mattie Gaffney online to register for her next conference, grab a course, or start your journey to be a next-level CEO. Your legacy is waiting, sis.