Candice Kelly: The Florida Mum Mixing Grit and Heart to Lift Others Up

It takes a particular kind of person to manage four children, serve on real estate association boards and still find time to mentor agents who are just starting out. Candice Kelly, a Florida native with deep roots in the Tampa Bay area, makes it look natural – though anyone who’s tried to juggle even half of what’s on her plate knows it’s anything but simple.

At first glance, you might think she’s simply busy. But spend a few minutes listening to her talk about her work, and something else becomes clear: everything she does seems to spring from the same well of genuine care for the people around her.

Leading with Heart

Kelly has built her reputation on what feels like an increasingly rare approach in professional circles – she actually means it when she talks about putting service first. She’s currently serving as a local and state Board Director for real estate associations, but these aren’t just titles she collects. Ask around the Tampa Bay real estate community, and you’ll hear stories about the practical ways she shows up for people.

Her involvement extends well beyond the office. Kelly holds multiple community leadership roles across the region, reflecting what she describes as her belief that ‘true leadership reaches outside the boundaries of profession’. It’s not the kind of community involvement that looks good on paper – it’s the kind that takes real time and genuine investment.

Her approach has earned her recognition throughout Florida’s real estate community, where colleagues know her as someone who doesn’t just talk about authentic leadership – she demonstrates it in the everyday moments that most people will never hear about.

What ‘Mentorship’ Really Means

The nickname ‘The Inspired Agent’ didn’t come from nowhere. Those who’ve worked with Kelly describe her leadership as authentically purpose-driven, and it shows in the way she approaches mentorship. Rather than the formal, distant kind of guidance you might expect from someone in a senior position, she works differently.

‘I’ll continue to work side-by-side with my clients while also guiding agents to build purposeful, thriving businesses,’ she explains. It’s this hands-on approach that sets her apart – she’s not dispensing advice from behind a desk, she’s still in the trenches, doing the work alongside the people she’s meant to be helping.

For agents just starting out in what can be an overwhelming profession, this kind of mentorship approach makes a tangible difference. Kelly has spent over 20 years in sales, and she understands that the real learning happens in the doing, not just the teaching.

Her recent move to iad Florida as Head of Constellation for the Tampa Bay region represents more than just a career change – it’s a chance to scale up the kind of personal, values-driven approach she’s always taken. The role puts her in charge of development across St. Pete and Greater Tampa Bay, but for Kelly, that’s really about expanding her ability to make a difference in individual careers.

Growing a Career That Grows With You

Kelly’s decision to join iad Florida wasn’t just about climbing a corporate ladder. It was about finding a platform that matched her vision for what professional growth should look like. Her mission, as she puts it, is ‘to help agents build businesses that thrive but are designed to support a life that is fulfilling and built to last’.

This philosophy speaks to a question many working parents grapple with: how do you build something meaningful professionally without sacrificing the parts of life that matter most? For Kelly, the answer isn’t about perfect balance – it’s about integration.

‘This new role reflects everything I believe in: leadership with heart, development with intention and business rooted in service,’ she says. It’s an approach that recognises success isn’t just about numbers or titles, but about whether the work you’re doing aligns with who you are as a person.

In a profession where women make up the majority of practitioners, Kelly’s example of combining motherhood with leadership offers a different model. Rather than compartmentalising her roles, she’s found ways to let them inform and strengthen each other.

Walking the Line Between Home and Work

Being a mum of four while taking on expanded professional responsibilities requires more than good intentions. Kelly has learned that the traditional concept of work-life balance – the idea that you can neatly separate professional and personal time – doesn’t reflect reality for most people, especially parents in demanding careers.

Instead, she’s embraced what many working mothers have discovered: flexibility and resilience matter more than perfect balance. Some days, family takes precedence. Other days, work demands more attention. The key is building a career that can accommodate both without requiring you to apologise for either.

Kelly’s approach to leadership reflects this understanding. She doesn’t expect the agents she mentors to show up as different people in different contexts – she encourages them to bring their whole selves to their work, just as she does. This philosophy aligns with aligning your potential for greatness with who you really are.

Her active presence in the Florida real estate community, combined with her family commitments, demonstrates that it’s possible to have significant professional influence without sacrificing personal values or family priorities. It’s a model that resonates particularly strongly with many professionals who are questioning what success really looks like.

Lighting the Way for Others

Kelly’s story isn’t remarkable because she’s managed to ‘have it all’ – that phrase suggests a kind of perfection that doesn’t exist in real life. Instead, it’s compelling because she’s found a way to build a career that reflects her actual priorities, rather than forcing her life to fit around professional expectations.

‘Leadership with heart, development with intention, business rooted in service’ – these aren’t just words for Kelly. They’re the framework she uses to make decisions, both big and small. Whether she’s advising a new agent, serving on a community board or managing the demands of family life, the same principles apply.

For other working parents watching her example, the message is encouraging: you don’t have to choose between professional development and personal authenticity. Like many women who have learned to trust their inner voice, Kelly demonstrates that with enough intention and the right opportunities, you can build something that honours both.

As Kelly settles into her expanded role with iad Florida, she’s not just focused on business development. She’s thinking about how to create an environment where other agents can find the same kind of purposeful integration she’s discovered – where professional success supports, rather than competes with, a life well lived.

Kelly’s approach suggests there might be another way forward for working parents. Not easier, necessarily, but more authentic – and ultimately more sustainable for the long haul.