On this episode of SMU Stories, we sat down with Torrey Littlejohn, Senior Managing Director and North Texas Market Lead at JLL, to discuss her path into commercial real estate and the growth of the Dallas market over the past two decades.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Torrey earned her undergraduate degree in business before completing her MBA at Southern Methodist University in 2005. She has been in Dallas since 1999 and today leads brokerage operations across the Dallas Fort Worth region.

Her career is a reflection of strategic risk taking, mentorship, and long term commitment to relationships.

Finding Dallas and Finding Opportunity

After graduating from UNC, Torrey moved to Dallas to work in corporate finance at American Airlines. The role offered both meaningful financial experience and the opportunity to travel the world. During her time there, she worked through airline mergers and navigated the challenges of 9/11, gaining firsthand exposure to complex financial decision making.

Over time, she noticed many MBA graduates entering the company at higher levels and compensation. That observation prompted her to consider business school.

Although she was not originally tied to Dallas professionally, SMU stood out because of its strong connection to the local business community.

“I didn’t fully understand what made Dallas tick,” she shared. “SMU was deeply connected to the companies and leaders shaping the city. That was incredibly important to me.”

The Power of Mentorship

Torrey entered the MBA program expecting to return to corporate finance. Instead, a mentorship connection changed her trajectory.

Through SMU’s mentor program, she was paired with a leader at The Staubach Company, which was later acquired by JLL. Their monthly conversations focused on transferable skills, industry exposure, and how financial expertise could apply beyond the airline industry.

She began to see clear parallels between her corporate finance work and commercial real estate. Evaluating leases and capital expenditures required the same financial discipline she had already developed.

She interned with The Staubach Company between her first and second year of business school and discovered that tenant representation allowed her to leverage her analytical strengths while working directly with companies shaping the region.

Taking the Risk

Transitioning into brokerage meant moving from a predictable salary and bonus structure into a commission based environment.

She had just taken on student loans for her MBA and understood the risk. Still, she chose to bet on herself.

That decision paid off.

Early in her career, she had the opportunity to work on several transformative transactions, including the relocation of Toyota’s North American headquarters to North Texas in 2012. That move marked a pivotal moment in Dallas’ corporate growth and accelerated transaction activity across the region.

Since then, she has witnessed the Dallas market evolve at an extraordinary pace.

The Three Keys to Success

Torrey often shares three principles that guide success in brokerage:

1. Who you know

2. What you know

3. How you work

When she entered real estate, she did not have a built in Dallas network. She was not from the area and did not have long standing business connections.

Instead, she leaned into what she did know. Her financial background became her differentiator. Her work ethic became her advantage.

“Hard work has a compounding effect,” she explained. “If you do not have the network yet, you need to be the person who shows up every day and outworks everyone else.”

Over time, her network grew through client relationships, community involvement, and consistent performance. Today, many of her strongest referrals come from long term clients who trust her expertise.

Why Dallas Continues to Win

As North Texas Market Lead at JLL, Torrey sees firsthand why companies continue to choose Dallas.

Population growth remains strong, with hundreds of people moving to the region daily. Many arrive without jobs but with strong educational backgrounds, confident in the opportunities available. That deep talent pool continues to attract corporate relocations and expansions.

Office strategies have evolved. Some companies prefer suburban campuses in Plano or Irving, while professional services firms often prioritize Uptown and walkable urban districts. What remains consistent is the role real estate plays in recruiting and retaining talent.

“Real estate impacts labor strategy,” she said. “If you choose the right location, you position your company to attract and keep great people.”

Despite economic cycles and shifts in workplace trends, Dallas continues to demonstrate strong fundamentals and long term resilience.

A Full Circle Moment

One of Torrey’s most meaningful milestones came when she and her husband built their first home. Her father made a lighthearted comment that underscored her independence. She had built a career that provided opportunities beyond what her family had imagined.

For her, that moment symbolized the value of taking calculated risks and trusting her instincts.

Today, she continues to mentor young professionals just as she was mentored during her time at SMU. Her journey reflects the strength of the SMU network, the power of disciplined work, and the opportunity that exists in Dallas for those willing to commit for the long term.

SMU Stories is made possible by our sponsors: Sewell Buick GMC, Agility Holdings Group, Probity Advisors, Sound of a Rose, Hilltop Property Tax, Security National Bank of Texas, Boyd Shackleford Barnett and Dixon, Big Agency, Life After Ball, SMU Cox School of Business, and Minion Steakhouse.