Some journeys are born from deep pain and transformed into powerful purpose. Carolyn Bradfield is one such leader. A technology entrepreneur and changemaker in the addiction and behavioral health space, Carolyn’s work is driven by lived experience, resilience, and a profound commitment to helping families heal. Humans of Fuzia is honored to share her story with our 5M+ global community, as it reflects courage, compassion, and the impact women can create when they lead with empathy and conviction.
Q. What inspired you to begin your journey in the addiction and behavioral health space?
Most people who work in this field have a personal story, and I’m no exception. I lost my first husband to alcoholism and suicide, and later, my 29-year-old daughter to an overdose after 15 years of struggling with substance abuse. While I’ve been a technology entrepreneur most of my career, these losses pushed me to ask how technology could be used differently—to change outcomes in an industry where results are often heartbreaking. That’s where my journey truly began.
Q. What challenges did you face while establishing your work, especially in changing mindsets?
We chose to focus on virtual family support in partnership with treatment programs. Families often enter treatment with expectations that don’t match reality, and when that gap isn’t addressed, it can lead to early discharges. The biggest challenge has been changing long-standing paradigms—many programs have traditionally focused only on the patient. Helping them see that family involvement stabilizes outcomes, improves recovery, and even strengthens their financial health has been key, but change is never easy.
Q. What milestones are you most proud of so far?
There are several. First, we reconfigured legacy technology we’d used in the corporate world to make it consumer-friendly. Then we layered in artificial intelligence to provide families with immediate answers and a safe space to practice difficult conversations. Another major milestone was getting treatment programs to adopt our solution—we’re now rolling out with one of the largest chains in the country. Finally, modernizing our technology to be more agile has allowed us to deliver value faster than ever before.
Q. Are you building this journey alone, or with a team?
I’m fortunate to work with a team I’ve collaborated with for over a decade. We’re not a solo operation—we’re growing together. We’re currently in a fundraising phase to scale the business, and the goal is definitely to expand, not shrink, the team.
Q. What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
I’ve seen a real shift over the decades. There’s growing recognition that women-led businesses are strong financial bets, and more funds are supporting female founders. In the addiction space, leadership has traditionally been male-dominated, but women bring a unique empathy—especially around family dynamics. I’m optimistic. I truly believe this is the best time yet for women to step into leadership and entrepreneurship.
Q. What advice would you give to women building their own paths?
Have the courage of your convictions. There are opportunities out there, and there are organizations dedicated to supporting women. Understand your unique value—what problem are you solving, and why are you uniquely qualified to solve it? Seek support, trust your perspective, and go for it.
Q. What does success mean to you, personally and professionally?
Success for me is when incorporating family support into addiction treatment becomes the standard—not an optional add-on. When programs everywhere recognize and support families as a core part of recovery, that’s when I’ll know we’ve truly made an impact.
“Have the courage of your convictions. Know your unique value, seek support, and go for it.” — Carolyn Bradfield
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