Kawai Lai

About Kawai Lai

I help teams and leaders to plan for the future, work better together, and gain clarity on what it means to create a more equitable world by using the power of visuals that brings joy and purpose. Formerly, I served as the Vice President of Innovation at the National Association of Independent Schools, a non-profit serving over 1,800 schools and 730K students across the country and abroad. In my role, I helped schools reimagine education, build capacity to innovate, and share stories of authentic progress. I was a founding team member of Education Elements, an ed tech startup working with the most forward-thinking public school districts and charters across the country to personalize learning. Prior to a career in education, I worked in consulting and technology, implementing large scale technology systems with Deloitte, working in different industries including healthcare, biotech, and aerospace. I\'m good at turning ideas into reality (no matter how crazy!) and find joy in making a positive impact on those around me.

Experience

1. Co-founder

   Re Collective

   Jul 2025 — Present

Education

• Southern Methodist University

  BS, Mechanical Engineering

• University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

  MBA

Skills

• Competitive Analysis
• Process Improvement
• Business Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership
• Customer Service
• Strategic Planning
• Customer Relations
• Management Consulting
• Vendor Management
• Financial Modeling
• Business Analysis
• Change Management
• Business Process Improvement
• Data Analysis
• Program Management
• Strategy
• Leadership Development
• Project Management
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Consulting
• Business Relationship Management
• Product Management
• Business Strategy
• Staff Development