Carly Kleiman (MSAPK ’17)

As a senior health strategist at Hylant, Carly Kleiman (MSAPK ’17) helps organizations prioritize the health and well-being of their employees. One of ten health strategists nationwide at the insurance brokerage firm, Kleiman draws on her background in exercise science and her education from the University of Florida to guide clients in building more supportive, people-centered workplaces.

“We’re looking at health more holistically, in the sense of all the elements of your work and how that impacts your well-being,” Kleiman said. “It’s not just the tangibles, but it’s also the broader support you provide, such as leave policies and mental well-being resources.”

At the start of her college journey in central Florida, Kleiman pursued a degree in sport and exercise science, with plans to become a strength and conditioning coach. But after graduating with her bachelor’s, she sought a graduate program that offered both flexibility and a broader perspective, ultimately choosing the UF College of Health and Human Performance Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology.

“I hit the jackpot,” Kleiman said. “I felt like there was a significant investment in the students, and what I felt translated over my time there. The master’s program really fostered my own autonomy – I felt like I could kind of build the experience for my master’s degree as my own.”  

While at UF, Kleiman took elective classes across the college, including health education and sport management, which expanded her understanding of human performance and exposed her to new career possibilities.

“Once I got into my program at Florida, I had to figure out what I wanted to do [as a profession], and through the curriculum, I saw different opportunities,” she said. “That level of being able to support you in your journey and craft an experience where you’re here earning your master’s degree to what best suits you kind of gave me that bandwidth to look beyond what exactly I thought I was on the path for.”

After graduating, Kleiman worked as a wellness coordinator for the City of Gainesville, supporting employees through wellness initiatives. She later gained experience working with health and wellness vendors, including Peerfit and Corporate Fitness Works.

Today, she partners with different clients to design customized wellness plans. For example, when working with a city government, she helped develop tailored solutions for a workforce comprising police officers, firefighters and other staff, ensuring that programs aligned with the unique demands of each role.

“What I am drawn to is being able to support and create initiatives for individuals who are everyday people,” she said. “Having a background in exercise science and having a master’s degree helps me in the sense of understanding how different conditions, like physical health conditions, may impact other things. Just knowing the physiological background of the human body and how it interplays is very impactful.”

A proud Gator, she credits her alma mater for providing opportunities to explore pathways that ultimately led her to where she is today.

“Seek opportunities that you may not have already considered and be open-minded to what the college can offer you,” she said. “UF has such a rich curriculum and instructors, and I never felt more welcome than I did at Florida.”