Meet Kristi Kandel

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristi Kandel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kristi, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I didn’t.

I just stopped letting it be the reason I stayed small.

If I’m being honest, the bigger the rooms got like city council hearings, multi-million dollar deals, national brands calling me for strategy, the louder the “who do you think you are?” voice got. But what I realized is that voice never goes away. It just gets quieter the more you take action.

And I started to notice something else. They were coming to me to solve a problem. Which meant… they didn’t have the solution either. Somebody had to figure it out, so I said yes. And I kept saying yes, and figuring it out along the way.

Here’s what helps:

Keeping proof: I track wins, big and small. Like receipts for my brain.

Staying in motion: Action kills doubt. I don’t sit too long in self-questioning.

Serving someone else: When I’m helping another local step into leadership, I’m not obsessing over my own insecurities.

If you feel like an imposter, it probably means you’re doing something bold. So keep going.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I run Local Real Estate Developers (LRED): a national movement helping locals take the lead in shaping their communities through real estate. After nearly 20 years in the industry, I realized most development is still controlled by outside investors who don’t actually live in the neighborhoods they’re building in. We’re changing that.

Through our LRED podcast, Developer Vault, and mentorship program, we pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to become a developer. Removing the gatekeeping. Our community includes aspiring and active developers, brokers, investors, and partners who all believe real estate should be done with communities, not to them.

What’s new? We just launched the Developer Vault which is a free hub of tools, checklists, and behind-the-scenes project walk-throughs. Plus, we’re growing our Skool community for locals who are ready to take action.

Whether you’re looking to lead your first project or scale what you’re already building, we’ve got the framework, support, and team to help you do it.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Resourcefulness over credentials. I didn’t have a real estate degree or fancy title when I started. I just had a willingness to figure it out, ask good questions, and stay curious. Don’t wait to feel “ready.”

Clear communication. Development is 90% managing people, expectations, and timelines. Learn how to problem solve, lead a meeting, and simplify complex ideas.

Long-game vision. Real estate is slow. The people who win aren’t always the smartest. They’re the ones who don’t give up. Stay in the room. Keep building. It adds up.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I simplify. I figure out the most important next step (send the email, make the call, outline the task) and just do it.

I also brain-dump everything swirling in my head into a notebook or CRM. Half the overwhelm is just trying to hold it all. Once it’s out, I can prioritize what’s actually urgent vs. what’s just noise.

And if I’m really fried? I step away. A phone-free walk, a quick workout, or even just sitting by the pool resets my brain way better than white-knuckling through it.

Overwhelm usually isn’t a sign to push harder, it’s a sign to pause and get clear.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/developer-vault-optin
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgKpTF3d5DZ1Mf6tpbxC3Uq9Lz899uohD&si=Tb530nMJfEQjR49E