Thomas Winston Thorpe, PCM, CDMP, CCFP

Portrait of Thomas Thorpe

Hi! I'm Thom.

As a senior digital strategy leader with over 25 years of experience, I specialize in transforming how mission-driven organizations connect with their audiences and advance their most critical objectives. Currently serving as the Director of Web Strategy at the University of Washington, I lead comprehensive digital marketing initiatives that reach millions of stakeholders and support billion-dollar institutional goals.

Strategic leadership that delivers results

My approach combines deep technical expertise with strategic vision to create digital experiences that drive measurable impact. At the University of Washington, I've built and scaled digital marketing operations that serve 65,000+ students, 35,000+ faculty and staff, and millions of alumni, donors, and friends while establishing frameworks that have been adopted across 200+ campus departments.

I'm particularly passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to unlock new efficiencies and create innovative workflows that transform how organizations operate. By integrating AI-driven solutions into digital marketing strategies, I help teams work smarter, make data-informed decisions faster, and focus their creative energy on high-impact initiatives that truly move the needle.

My key accomplishments:

  • Platform excellence: Manage institutional web presence reaching 2M+ monthly pageviews with 99.9% uptime
  • Campaign impact: Collaborate on digital strategies supporting $5B+ capital campaign, contributing to overall increase in online donor engagement
  • Operational leadership: Direct cross-functional team of digital marketing professionals, establishing norms and performance metrics that improved team productivity and increased team retention
  • Innovation driver: Developed and implemented centralized web marketing platform adopted by many campus departments, reducing development costs and improving user outcomes

Beyond digital marketing: building teams, driving culture

I believe exceptional digital strategy starts with exceptional people. Throughout my career, I've been committed to building diverse, inclusive teams where professionals can bring their whole selves to work and achieve their highest potential. My leadership philosophy centers on mentorship, career development, and creating environments where innovation thrives.

As a Professional Certified Marketer, Certified Digital Marketing Professional, and Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, I bring both strategic acumen and deep empathy to organizational leadership.

Ready for your next challenge

Whether you're seeking a senior digital strategy executive, exploring board leadership opportunities, or looking for strategic consulting expertise, I'm passionate about helping mission-driven organizations amplify their impact through innovative digital experiences.

My expertise spans:

  • Strategic leadership: Digital transformation, team building, crisis communications, stakeholder management
  • Marketing excellence: Content strategy, campaign development, user experience design, conversion optimization
  • Innovation & AI integration: Leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline workflows, enhance decision-making, and drive operational efficiencies
  • Institutional impact: Higher education marketing, fundraising support, brand management, accessibility advocacy

Available for speaking engagements

I'm passionate about sharing insights and fostering meaningful conversations about the future of digital strategy in mission-driven organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning technical implementation to C-suite strategy, I bring practical knowledge and proven frameworks to audiences seeking to elevate their digital marketing impact.

Speaking topics include:

  • AI in digital marketing: Practical applications of artificial intelligence for workflow optimization and strategic decision-making
  • Higher education digital strategy: Building scalable marketing operations that serve diverse institutional stakeholders
  • Leadership in digital transformation: Managing teams and driving organizational change in complex environments
  • Crisis communications: Developing and executing sensitive digital communications strategies
  • Accessibility and inclusion: Creating digital experiences that serve all users and advance equity goals
  • Team building and management: Fostering diverse, high-performing digital marketing teams
  • Data-driven decision making: Using analytics to inform strategy and demonstrate ROI

Whether you're organizing a conference, workshop, seminar, or panel discussion, I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience might align with your audience's needs and learning objectives.

Let's connect

I'm always interested in meaningful conversations about digital strategy, higher education leadership, and organizational impact. Whether you're looking to explore professional opportunities or simply want to discuss the evolving landscape of digital marketing in mission-driven organizations, I'd love to hear from you.

Connect with me on LinkedIn | Send me an email

Signature of Thomas Thorpe

— Thomas ("Thom") Winston Thorpe, PCM, CDMP, CCFP

Copyright © 1996–2025 Thomas Winston Thorpe, all rights reserved. All product names, logos, brands, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. The opinions expressed herein are the author's own and do not reflect those of their employer.