Dr. Thomas Waite

Dr. Thomas Waite is Founder and Executive Chair of K16 Solutions, a global education technology company helping colleges and universities modernize how they migrate, archive, integrate, and trust institutional data. As the company’s founding Chief Executive Officer, he led K16 from startup to global enterprise, earning a U.S. patent while helping hundreds of institutions navigate some of higher education’s most complex technology transformations.

A recognized higher education strategist, entrepreneur, educator, and thought leader, Dr. Waite has spent more than three decades helping institutions adapt to changing technologies, evolving student expectations, and new models of learning. His career has included service as a chief academic officer, provost, dean, faculty member, founder, and board leader, giving him a unique perspective on both academic leadership and organizational transformation.

Today, much of his work focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership, and higher education. He believes AI represents one of the greatest opportunities in the history of education—not to replace human relationships, but to strengthen them. Through his work with colleges and universities, his writing, and his teaching, he encourages leaders to approach AI with curiosity, wisdom, and a relentless focus on improving the student experience.

Dr. Waite is also the author of Ego Friction, a weekly publication exploring leadership, lifelong learning, higher education, and the human side of artificial intelligence. Through personal stories, practical insights, and thoughtful reflection, he examines how curiosity, humility, and continuous learning help individuals and institutions thrive during times of profound change.

Dr. Waite holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and is recognized for his research on student retention and transactional distance theory. His scholarship introduced practical applications of transactional distance theory that strengthened student engagement and persistence while helping institutions improve educational outcomes at scale.

He teaches Strategic Management in the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. While students enroll expecting to learn strategy, they quickly discover that leadership, character, curiosity, and lifelong learning are equally important themes. Dr. Waite believes the classroom remains one of the few places where ideas can genuinely change lives, and he considers it a privilege to help students prepare to compete, contribute, and lead in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Whether leading a technology company, serving as a senior university administrator, writing, or teaching, Dr. Waite’s work is guided by one enduring belief: institutions become extraordinary when they invest in the growth of their people. His mission is to help organizations and individuals navigate change with courage, humility, innovation, and purpose.

Connect with Dr. Waite

• K16 Solutions: https://www.k16solutions.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaswaite
• Ego Friction: https://egofriction.substack.com

Dr. Waite is a proud husband of twenty-nine years, father of three wonderful children, and grandfather of one. He is an avid reader of literature, history, technology, and biographies. He enjoys gardening and fitness, is a former tennis professional, and currently studies Russian, Arabic, and Chinese.