Celebrating our Stevie Award: A Reflection of Kipu’s Mission in Action

Receiving the Silver Stevie® Award for Top Tech Executive of the Year is incredibly humbling—and honestly, exciting. But more than anything, this moment truly spotlights the extraordinary impact we, as a team at Kipu, have collectively created. I’m proud to have received this honor, but it’s a reflection of the energy, innovation, and genuine passion our team brings every day, pushing the boundaries for our customers and drive what’s possible in behavioral health. 

When I joined Kipu, my vision was clear: transform the way behavioral health facilities deliver care, not just by providing cutting-edge technology, but by truly partnering with them in their missions.  

Receiving this Stevie Award underscores our shared successes. I’m particularly proud of our unwavering commitment to client success, reflected in our 111% net retention rate and 100% gross retention rate among our top 50 largest customer organizations.  To me, this statistic speaks volumes about the trust we’ve built and the tangible value we deliver daily. It’s not just about providing software—it’s about fostering relationships and understanding deeply the challenges and opportunities our clients face. 

Innovation has been at the core of our efforts, and it’s thrilling to see our work with AI recognized by industry experts. The launch of KIP, our AI-driven behavioral health intelligence solution, developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), has marked a significant step forward in addressing critical industry challenges like provider burnout and operational inefficiencies. By leveraging AI, we’ve empowered providers to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks, significantly enhancing productivity and care quality. 

Furthermore, our strategic initiatives—from comprehensive market surveys guiding critical industry insights to impactful thought leadership and continuous product innovation—are reflections of our relentless pursuit to elevate behavioral healthcare. 

I am immensely grateful to our dedicated team at Kipu, whose passion, talent, and tireless efforts are the true foundation of this recognition. Together, we’ve not just grown as a business—we’ve grown as an essential partner to behavioral health organizations, helping them thrive in their missions and deliver exceptional care to those who need it most. 

Thank you to the Stevie judges for acknowledging our work, and thank you to our incredible team and clients for making these achievements possible. Our journey forward is bright, and I’m excited about all that we will continue to accomplish together. 

About the Authors

Carina Edwards CEO of Kipu Health, the technology partner for mental health and addiction service providers. Carina is an experienced healthcare technology executive with a proven track record of innovative and dynamic leadership in establishing, growing, and operating private and public companies. Prior to Kipu, she served as the CEO of Quil, a pioneering joint venture between Comcast NBCUniversal and Independence Blue Cross. Prior to Quil, Edwards was an executive at Imprivata, where she played a key role in the company's growth and built an award-winning customer experience organization.