Transcript
Speaker: Today's episode is going to be a little bit different from our usual conversations. Although the focus of this week's episode isn't necessarily outdoorsy in the usual way, I know you'll find it every bit as valuable.
Speaker: Lucy Billingsley is a real estate developer, philanthropist, and world traveler whose adventures around the globe have shaped how she helps people live and work in the Dallas area.
Speaker: Sometimes being an outdoorsy educator isn't just about hiking or camping or being in the forests. It's about the people that we meet, the perspectives we encounter, and the things that we can learn that ultimately make us not only better educators, but better people.
Speaker: So thank you for tuning in to this slightly different but equally as meaningful conversation with the wonderful Lucy Billingsley.
Speaker: Today, I am joined by a true Dallas visionary. As the co-founder and partner of the Billingsley Company, she has helped shape not just the skylight of North Texas, but the places where people live, work, gather, and build their lives. Her story is one of entrepreneurship, leadership, and forging her own path from the travel industry to becoming one of the most influential figures in Dallas real estate. But today I'm excited to look beyond the buildings and business deals and get to know the person behind the vision. Lucy, welcome and thank you so much for being here.
Speaker: Well, it's a treat. Thank you for having me So I've shared a little bit about you, but I'd love if you love it if you could share with our audience a little bit more about you, your background and who you are.
Speaker: Well, I was born in Dallas and um grew up with five brothers and was next to the youngest. So I think my parents kept kept wanting to have a girl, kept trying, kept trying. ah And I'm now married here with four children, eight grandchildren, and have ah lived my entire life and career here.
Speaker: ah Well, I went to University of Texas, so you could say that's a suburb of Dallas in Austin. um But get out of town traveling a lot. ah Enjoy that. And I'm in real estate development, as you mentioned, and it's a family business. So our kids are in the business and my husband and I are in here together.
Speaker: um So we get to work in Dallas and travel for pleasure. I love it. I think that's a very good place to start. I did want to ask you about your family. I became a granddad last year for the first time. and Isn't it the greatest thing on the planet? thought being a parent was the best. yeah I think being a granddad might actually have somehow topped it.
Speaker: Well, it's certainly these children bring a joy into your lives that you didn't expect. You didn't anticipate, right? And um then you get to and You can see who your grandchildren are pretty quickly and understand these young people and where the parents may want to mold them into one vision or another. You just get to say, I know who you are. Let's go with it.
Speaker: Let's do it. I think that's that's exactly my experience too. And and she's my granddaughter is almost one, but already seeing seeing who she is, seeing her personality, it's just such a wonderful thing.
Speaker: um I do have questions about your family and the business, but I think maybe I'll take a step back because your father was in the real estate business. Is that correct? and That's right. And I was curious as to, I could sit here and ask you questions about what he taught you about the industry, but I was actually thinking about like life lessons he's perhaps left you with that really didn't appear to have anything to do with real estate at all.
Speaker: Well, um thank you for that question. I think we all ah can thank our parents for so many life lessons. um My dad gave life lessons and who he was.
Speaker: His heart, his essence, his love, his integrity, his friendship, his candor, his kindness. And though he was successful in business, he's really known for the kind man and the smart, bold man that he was. One phrase that ah he gave to us as we were growing up is it's all up to you.
Speaker: And I love that because that gives you total emancipation and freedom and total responsibility. And I think those two go a hand in hand. And so whatever life gives you, it's up to you.
Speaker: And um so we try to live by that. Yeah, that's that's both freeing and empowering and could also be quite scary at the same time. i think all the feelings, but you're absolutely he's absolutely right. And is that something that you have passed down to your children? i believe they have entered you know into your your family business as well.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. And how is it as you've obviously transitioned from somebody who was the daughter to your kind of, you know, having your children come in, is it quite difficult or is it not too too bad to see your children? I assume they have had big successes and made mistakes. And I would feel as a parent, I would want to step in too much. How has that role played out for you?
Speaker: Oh, no, i um I have great respect for my children. And I think they're highly competent and um um you know strong integrity and and morality, and can say a lot of great things about them.
Speaker: And so I want them to lead their own lives and encourage them along their way. you know The interesting thing that's happened now that kids are and their late 30s, early 40s, and um they can they can do anything that needs to be done in this business. so I keep letting go of things that we used to do and they do the all these things, design, create, build. And so Henry and I have to keep redefining who we are and how we can these things. So it's ah anyway, it's just great to see them thrive and, and,
Speaker: That's a really interesting and and and perspective I hadn't fully considered, that you would be the one doing a lot of reinvention. That's very interesting. I know you spent the early part of your career, certainly, in more of the travel and hospitality area. and now And now you get to travel for pleasure. What a wonderful thing that is. And I was curious as to what places you have been and thought Dallas could learn something from the way people here do this. What places have truly inspired the work you have done in Dallas?
Speaker: Well, let's just talk about real estate. So yeah this is you know not cultural and and there's so many other wonderful things, but in real estate, um i'll I'll pick two very different cities to mention Paris and Singapore.
Speaker: right ah Paris is, as to me, the most beautiful city on earth. The buildings are really not taller than eight stories. So they have a very human scale to them. The buildings also change as you go up.
Speaker: First floor will be ah you know a larger floor plate or a taller ceiling. Then the second floor will have a different detail or two or three floors may be the same. And then you change again near the top. It's fascinating. It's interesting. It's friendly.
Speaker: um And obviously the parks in the river, um So, and it's so walkable. Singapore is a city with a lot of tall buildings and the city actually has architectural influence on the buildings, but what they've done is on all of these tall buildings, they are either filled with balconies or open spaces up high in the building, trees and plants. So instead of having it be an obelisk in your face, It's tall, but it's open and inviting. So we've changed the way we build offices about 10 years ago to have them all have this openness.
Speaker: So if they're now for us, five, 10 stories tall, you still, every, you can engage with them from being on the ground. um That's fascinating. Yeah, I think of Singapore and I think of floor to ceiling glass and and impressive. But as you said, I love the way you said human skill, yet not exactly warm and welcoming, but obviously I've not seen something there. So now I will be ah going back and and having a look.
Speaker: And when I was thinking about architecture this morning as I was preparing for this, When you drive through Dallas, I assume that you see things on the physical landscape that you have had some impact or influence over things maybe you've built. And I was curious as to what that feels like, you know, reflecting on your career and and the impact you've had on Dallas.
Speaker: You know, I don't reflect enough. um I'm mostly focused on what can we do tomorrow? What can we do today? And so um When I'll drive to a development, I'm seeing the open land and the opportunity that exists there. And, um but you know, pleased that the rest of it is, you know, that we've done it and it's successful and we're going and and people are there. So hopefully they're enjoying it. You know, ah it just each thing you do needs to be successful so you can build on that.
Speaker: I love it. it ah Yes, continuing to look forward to not resting on our laurels. Absolutely. um We're doing a little reading about things that you've done. You've spoken about fear being a part of your early career. And I was curious as to do you think fear has held you back or has it actually inspired you to be a better leader?
Speaker: I think um being motivated by fear is really wonderful. It was fear of can I succeed? Can I do this? I came out of a family business and um it and it was successful.
Speaker: And so was I succeeding because of those who'd come before me or could I do it on my own? And um I first ah started at the Dallas Market Center and that was a wholesale to retail business that I ran for a while.
Speaker: And ah So that was something that my dad had launched and I got to help grow a little bit. When I left there and then when and that's when I took the travel agency and said, can I just start to have a business on my own?
Speaker: And that ended up working. And then I did a but first office building. So that was normal real estate instead of specialty. And once I did that, I lost my fear.
Speaker: And thought, what is gonna motivate me now? I've been motivated by fear for so long. And so then you get motivated by purpose. I love that, turning the fear into purpose. That's that's beautiful. um One of the main reasons I wanted to sit down with you for this conversation was some I was looking at some of the worthwhile organizations that you support through your philanthropy, and two of them jumped out at me in particular. They were all wonderful organizations. but two of them spoke to my heart a little bit. And I was wondering if you might be able to talk a little bit about why you chose them. They are the Texas women's foundation and the national geographic young explorer society.
Speaker: I suspect it's, it's not, it's ah there's a personal reason why those have been supported. And I was, would love it if you could share that with us. Um, the, uh, I'll mention one other to blend in with this, but the Texas women's foundation, um,
Speaker: is a very strong and significant organization. But it used to be that women didn't give big money away. We did charitable activities, but we weren't financially.
Speaker: That was the husband's ah responsibility. or um And so when the Texas Women's Foundation got going, I thought, I'm yeah a woman in business here. I need to support this organization. so the leader women's leadership is seen in a significant financial way, as well as in the actions that they do, which are so important.
Speaker: Before jumping in that geo, I'll mention one at the Grameen Foundation. um That's a microfinance project. And I um got interested in it because microfinance is giving woman a loan of probably $50 and in a system where they have 98% repayment rate. But it's finding a woman who has given her financial responsibility and opportunity and trusting her.
Speaker: And I thought, you know, what is the gift I've been given in my life? Financial opportunity and trust. And so I loved getting into that world. After I was there for a while and about 10 years, I was real active.
Speaker: i i I wanted to shift and I thought, really what I'd like to do is find excellence. Where could you support excellence someplace in the world that might not otherwise get a breakthrough?
Speaker: And the National Geographic Young Explorers seem to be just that. You know, brilliant, bold people at, you know, there in in early stages, they were at 18 to 25. Now they're a little bit more 25 to 30, but they're they're doing significant things around the world.
Speaker: Some of those people are going to be really big. I don't know which one, but somebody there is going to do something significant. I love that. I've got place in my heart for National Geographic because of the work they've done. They've given people chances, I feel, and not just a chance, also the support and the means to make this Yeah, and training. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker: How to tell their stories. Well, I think this would be a very good point to sort of segue into travel. I was introduced to you through a colleague who has traveled with you. And I was curious as to how travel, whether it being within the United States or globally, has impacted not just your business, but you as a human being.
Speaker: Well, totally. um and Let me just say, when I traveled to um Mexico and Chiapas and the microfinance with the Grameen Foundation, There I'm meeting women who have a dirt floor and a shed for a house and they welcome you with pride.
Speaker: And I always thought that disadvantaged women in other countries, you know, couldn't do what we do because we've got this, this and this. And once I met these women, I thought I couldn't do what they do.
Speaker: So my whole outlook on humanity has been deeply enriched through not just traveling two places, but meeting the people.
Speaker: I think that's it. I love that we've discussed travel and architecture and you've brought up people in all aspects because it truly is all about the people we meet and the people we serve.
Speaker: And that's coming through loud and clear with what you do, which is just beautiful. As we kind of come around the home stretch of this interview, I do have three questions I would like to ask you that I've not prepared you for. And the first is how has your definition of success changed, if it has, over the years? And what does it look like now?
Speaker: Well, first off, I have to say, I didn't read the questions you sent me because I feel like it's better to do things extemporaneously. So that's why these three questions I've not sent. to you No, I didn't read. to you and I didn't read the other ones. Yes. So there you go. Probably be shame on me.
Speaker: No, not its at all. The definition of success. um I'm sure it changes as you go through life as a child, as a teenager, um,
Speaker: And um and so let me give a stab at it right now. ken Can I lead a life of horse integrity, kindness, the major principles in a smart way that operates with a capability to influence the world more significantly than I've done before?
Speaker: Can I rise to another occasion? You know, I'm I'm now 72 at this time. When I was young, you'd pick up the phone and call somebody on business deal and hope they'd answer. Now people answer my phone calls. So I've got a platform now.
Speaker: And what can I do here that might be purposeful and impactful? That would be success. I think that's that's that's beautiful.
Speaker: um we've We've all got a favorite book or favorite books, but I was curious as to most the most impactful book you may have read. It could also be your favorite or best book, but one that truly left a mark on your life and shaped the way you think or act.
Speaker: I'm not going to be good at answering this question. Okay. I... i um I don't know something doesn't you know zoom right in. maybe Maybe emotionally you go to a book of your youth. And um but, that you know, that kind of impact is ah ah different. That's ah so um i'm I'm really I get caught up on what I've read recently. So this is not answering your question at all. OK, but I've just finished um ah Theo Ross's book, How to Rule the World.
Speaker: And it's his experience at Stanford as a freshman. And I learned so much about and that school and the Silicon Valley influence in that school.
Speaker: And um he ended up doing reporting that exposed that the president university had been involved with many falsified scientific researches. And as a 17-year-old wrote articles that got the president fired.
Speaker: So it's a fascinating story. Interesting. Okay, I'll need to look that one up. It's a good read. It's a good read. That always helps. Always helps. My final question for you is when I think of the the Dallas skyline, of course, we can all picture Reunion Tower. And there's a restaurant at the top called, I believe it's the Crown Block.
Speaker: And I was curious if you were going to go for dinner there and overlook the city at night and you could sit down with anyone in the world. This could be somebody you know, somebody famous, somebody you don't know, somebody who is with us or no longer with us, a human being that has ever existed and you got to pick their brains over a nice meal. Who would you love to sit down with for dinner?
Speaker: Well, obviously my husband, right. and You've got, you've got to say, you know, uh, present coming company and, and family excluded. Yes. We'll go with that. Yeah.
Speaker: Um, that's, that is, uh, my husband would answer that question much more quickly. He'd just say FDR. Um, some might say Thomas Jefferson.
Speaker: Um, so I, I think I would tend towards great world leaders I think that's, a yeah, i' but I'm always curious as to the human aspect of world leaders and what makes them drive them to do whatever it is that they do. Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you, Lucy, so much for your time today. If listeners are feeling inspired by this conversation and would like to find out more about you or what it is you do, what's the best way way for them to do that?
Speaker: They found out more about me. you or your your philanthropy or your yeah business? um Because I was certainly inspired looking through your website about wow the charitable work you've done.
Speaker: No, I mean, you're you're kind to say so. But yeah, the website probably is the easiest way to learn more about us. And um obviously, my email's on it. So, you know, it's easy to email me. And I don't know that I have things of import to say, but I'm accessible.
Speaker: Well, I think you're undervaluing the inspiration that you've certainly given me and I think you'll give to others. But Lucy Billingsley, thank you so much for your time today. A pleasure. Thank you.
Speaker: Thank you again to this week's guest, and I hope today's episode was as enjoyable for you as it was for me, and perhaps even inspired your next adventure. If you did enjoy the show, please be sure to subscribe, leave a review, or follow us wherever you get your podcasts. You can find more information at theoutdoorsyeducator.com or follow us on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. Until next time, thank you so much for listening to...
Speaker: The Outdoorsy Educator Podcast.
