Recently, Business Fortune spoke to Monique Allen, the Founder and CEO of MA’AT Enterprises, Inc. The following excerpts are from the conversation that ensued.
Q. How did MA’AT Enterprises start? How has the company grown since its foundation?
Founded in 2018, MA’AT Enterprises was established with a clear mission to provide unwavering support to tribal communities and organizations in the vital spheres of healthcare staffing, medical technology, and business solutions. MA’AT was founded with a vision of wanting to make a difference and have an impact on communities. Tribal communities face significant inequities in healthcare and technology due to cultural barriers, isolation, and access to funding. As CEO and Founder of MA’AT Enterprises Inc., I created the company to reduce this gap for future generations.
As a new company, we are very proud of how far the company has grown since its inception. Since inception, the company has nearly tripled its revenue and impact in the community in the last two years.
Q. Why did you choose to start a tribal-owned company specializing in providing technical and business-based solutions?
Years ago, I was driven by a strong desire to serve my community, as I was well aware of the ongoing marginalization that Indigenous communities face worldwide. There are an estimated 5.2 million American Indians in the United States. Representation in the areas of technology and business-based healthcare solutions is disproportionate. Statistics suggest this underrepresentation has become detrimental to the community. We need solutions to improve the life expectancy of American Indians, especially in communities plagued by inadequate education and poverty. MA’AT was created to provide some solutions to these disparities by promoting innovation.
Q. What are the different types of services offered by MA’AT Enterprises?
We currently provide technical solutions in the areas of Indian healthcare staffing, medical technology solutions, and STEM VR education. We are one of the leading staffing providers for healthcare agencies that serve American Indians. Our industry experts and providers serve hospitals nationwide by offering telehealth solutions to support isolated communities. We also provide advanced technologies for mental and behavioral health conditions.
Q. What are the advantages customers receive in choosing to do business with MA’AT Enterprises over its rivals?
MA’AT Enterprises’ reputation for understanding and caring about the communities we serve is our business advantage. We’re thrilled to be on this list because we want to hire people who are committed to improving care and services for tribal communities. Tribal communities encounter numerous disadvantages across various industries. However, partnering with MA’AT helps them regain a sense of purpose. Our number of clients is growing fast, and we are grateful for their trust in our services. Our impact speaks for itself.
Q. What were some of the most memorable projects you and the team at MA’AT Enterprises have worked on? How did the team’s expertise help elevate the final outcome of the project?
MA’AT Enterprises team worked on a memorable project by providing staff to the largest Indian medical center in the nation. We submitted a proposal and won one of the largest contracts in the country after a rigorous selection process.
Our team came together to provide a pool of resources to make an immediate impact at these hospitals. My team’s expertise allowed us to provide a surge that was unheard of in the industry. The pandemic has affected all medical centers. Working with the nation’s largest Indian healthcare provider has boosted our company to new heights!
Q. In addition to being a tribal-owned company, MA’AT Enterprises is also woman-owned. What were some unique challenges you faced because of this, and how did this help your company grow?
Representation is crucial! Growing up, I had dreams of becoming a medical doctor and serving tribal communities. I found myself pivoting after graduating, when I realized I had a passion for technology. Being a woman of color, whose family is part of the Cherokee Nation, has been challenging in this space. Becoming the CEO of a company is something that is not nurtured or encouraged enough by women. Some unique challenges include creating opportunities for me and the company. Instead of trying to find a seat at the table, I created my own table. I have remained steadfast about being a community “go-giver.” What continues to help MA’AT grow is to not remain so focused on just generating money but on providing value!
Q. What are MA’AT Enterprises’ plans for the future?
Our plans include further exploration of how we can use healthcare technology to reach more organizations and tribal communities. As advocates for vulnerable populations, we have many technological solutions to share with the community. We are working hard to reduce health differences and increase the use of these solutions by federal, state, and local tribal governments. Wanting tribal communities to feel visible in the U.S. Healthcare system is our goal.
Q. Would you like us to highlight something important happening in your company that we may have missed asking about?
We are often asked what the meaning of our company name is. MA’AT refers to the ancient Egyptian concepts of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice. The fundamental order of the universe. The Egyptians believed that everyone is responsible for their own life and should live in harmony with others and the earth. In the same way that the gods cared for humanity, so should humans care for each other and the earth that they had been provided with. Our company culture aims to:
- Share our abundance with others.
- Wish ourselves and others well.
- Cooperate with others and work for a common good.
- Seek to create positive changes in the community, especially in our tribal communities.
MA’AT, the goddess, is often shown with a white ostrich feather on her head. The MA’AT feather was crucial during the ceremony to weigh the soul’s heart in the afterlife.
May your heart be as light as a feather.
Meet the Founder and CEO
Monique Allen is the CEO and Founder of Ma’at Enterprises, Inc. She has over 25 years of experience in the technology field. Monique has experience working with private healthcare and federal agencies. Monique is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation out of Talequah, Oklahoma. Monique is committed to and passionate about issues surrounding underserved communities and youth related to STEM. She has dedicated time and service on behalf of leading nonprofits to implement programs nationwide.
As a founding member of the La Bella Vita Inc. Foundation and Wright Community Organization, she has also been instrumental in ensuring that underserved communities get access to health care screenings and STEM education services.
Her vision is to continue creating a generational blessing for her family’s legacy.
