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Parent Department University of Florida

IA Alumni – Where Are They Now? Featuring Madison Ford 

By Maja Hiller 

Now shaping the future of real estate with a bold, people-first approach, Madison Ford continues to innovate and lead well beyond her time at the Innovation Academy.  

After graduating in 2021, Ford began her journey at Keller Williams, starting at the front desk and quickly rising through the ranks. Today, she leads a community of 136 agents as the brokerage leader and business consultant at Keller Williams Portfolio Collection in Largo, Florida.  

Driven by a passion to learn and innovate, she has built a career focused on helping others flourish with purpose—both personally and professionally—and reflects on how the Innovation Academy played a meaningful role in that journey.  

Featured on Tampa Bay Real Producers’ 30 Under 30, Ford thrives on a foundation of confident leadership and forward-thinking strategy. Whether she’s guiding agents through emerging technologies like AI, helping them discover new opportunities, or building systems that help scale their businesses, she brings the entrepreneurial mindset and hands-on experience she gained at IA into every aspect of her work. That foundation taught her how to approach problem-solving with creativity while staying grounded in structure and intention. 

“From group projects to leadership opportunities, it was all about real-world application. I learned how to lead meetings, pitch ideas, manage a team, and take ownership of results,” Ford shared. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but those lessons shaped how I lead today—and prepared me for the kind of fast-paced, people-centered leadership real estate requires.” 

During her time at IA, she took on multiple leadership roles, including President of the Innovation Academy Ambassadors and Director of Programming for the Innovation Leadership Program—positions that allowed her to build community, collaborate with others, and further develop her leadership skills. Much of her experience took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time that demanded greater creativity and adaptability. And yet, Ford reimagined ways to keep students engaged and learned to lead through uncertainty, a skill that remains with her today.  

Evolving is a lifelong journey, and as Ford looks ahead, innovation and leadership remain at the core of her work. Her goal is to continue sparking a mindset of purpose and growth; inspiring those around her to become the best versions of themselves and live a life they love.

Madison Ford thanks the Innovation Academy not just for shaping her skills, but for helping her believe in what’s possible. And now, she helps others do the same.

“It shaped my confidence, my leadership style, and my willingness to take bold action—qualities that have served me in every stage of my career so far. I wouldn’t be where I am without the mentors, the team projects, and the belief that if something doesn’t exist yet… you might be the one to build it.”  

She advises prospective IA students to get involved and make the most of the experience: “The Innovation Academy isn’t just about taking classes; it’s about discovering what lights you up and getting the chance to lead, create, and grow alongside some of the most driven people you’ll ever meet.”