Artificial intelligence has become the buzzword of the moment in higher education, but for many enrollment teams, it often feels like just another layer of complexity on top of an already demanding job. Budgets are tight, teams are stretched thin, and the pressure to recruit and retain students has never been greater. What leaders are really asking now is whether AI can move past the hype and actually help them do what matters most—build real, human connections with students. After all, research shows that a student’s sense of belonging is one of the strongest predictors of retention, yet most tools on the market still prioritize mining data over nurturing relationships.

Can AI actually help enrollment teams create meaningful human connections, rather than simply adding to technology fatigue?

Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In the latest episode, host Darin Francis sits down with Tim Brandt and Lungile Tshuma, co-founders of Kai, to explore how their solution is reframing the role of AI in higher education. Together, they unpack how Kai Nurture is designed to give enrollment leaders more time back, amplify human voices rather than replace them, and build belonging as the foundation for lifelong learning.

The main topics of discussion…

Kai as a relationship-nurturing system: Rather than functioning as another CRM, Kai Nurture integrates with existing systems to surface only the most actionable insights, allowing recruiters and counselors to focus on authentic engagement.

Efficiency with humanity: Enrollment leaders and frontline recruiters benefit from a tool that clears away data “noise” and prioritizes proactive student engagement, ultimately strengthening yield and retention.

AI that amplifies, not replaces: The founders believe that higher ed should adopt AI to support human connection, not substitute for it—using technology that “disappears” into the background while enabling better relationships.

Tim Brandt is the Co-Founder of Kai, where he focuses on transforming the higher education enrollment experience through technology that fosters student belonging. He previously served in corporate strategy and innovation roles at Cognizant, bringing expertise in strategic growth, consulting, and cross-industry problem solving. With a background in biomedical engineering and experience in medical device research and entrepreneurship, he combines technical depth with business acumen to build impactful solutions in education.

Lungile Tshuma is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kai, where he is leading efforts to transform higher education by reimagining the enrollment experience and fostering student belonging from day one. He brings experience as a Senior Consultant at World Wide Technology and as a business development advisor in Africa-focused investment strategy, combining expertise in growth, consulting, and technology. A former international rugby player for Zimbabwe, he has also worked in leadership training and culture development, giving him a unique background in both team-building and organizational transformation.