DFW Power Women: Stream’s Sara Terry Brings Trammell Crow Center Back To Life
This limited series profiles DFW Power Women who have made their mark in the Dallas-Fort Worth commercial real estate industry. Each of the women profiled will be honored at Bisnow's Dallas-Fort Worth Power Women event Nov. 12.
Stream Realty Partners Senior Vice President Sara Terry is one power woman not afraid to tackle complex urban renovation projects.
Under her guiding hand, Trammell Crow Center underwent a massive $140M renovation in Downtown Dallas. The 50-story skyscraper received improvements to 1.1M SF of office space plus addition of a fitness center, a conference center, a parking garage and retail area improvements.
The project is one of the highlights of Terry’s career, but before she became an executive in commercial real estate, she dreamed of holding a much higher office.
Bisnow: What did you dream of becoming as a child?
Terry: The first job I remember that I wanted was to be the first female president of the United States. I was really interested in why there had never been a woman president from a very young age.
Bisnow: How does your current career feed that inner child inside of you?
Terry: I’ve always had a strong desire to break molds and I love to help other women realize their potential.
Bisnow: If you could teach women growing in the industry today just one thing, what would it be?
Terry: Don’t be afraid to dream big, take up space and make your voice heard. Studies have shown that fewer women aspire to the C-suite than men, which may be a factor as to why there aren’t as many women in those positions. Find a sponsor (someone who will advocate for you when you aren’t in the room) and get a mentor early on. Be thoughtful about what you want and expect, and make those intentions clear to those who support and believe in you.
Bisnow: What is your biggest career failure and what positive lessons did it teach you?
Terry: After nine years in commercial real estate, I realized I had chosen the wrong path. At the time, I was in property management, and although I was having a lot of success, I realized that I had just followed the path, and ended in a place that did not match my strengths. I was trying to be something that I wasn’t. After some self-reflection, I realized that there was another path for me on the leasing side, and made that transition.
My process taught me to seek guidance and advice from others, and not be afraid to take risks. I also learned that I was not afraid to cold call. That same set of skills served me well when I moved from Atlanta to Dallas, and had to start over, once again.
Bisnow: Describe your greatest career accomplishment.
Terry: I recently completed a major repositioning of Trammell Crow Center in the Arts District. The project was truly transformative, and I was involved in every aspect of the repositioning: development, leasing, marketing and even art selection.
With the completion of the project, the project went from 50% to 90% leased, and rents have increased by more than 70%.
Bisnow: Who inspires you on a daily basis and why?
Terry: I am fascinated by the career path stories that I hear from other women in commercial real estate. More often than not, these women have taken a path less traveled, and are so incredibly driven. It can be difficult to navigate a business world where your mostly male peers don’t have a lot of things in common with you, and the CRE women I know, not only in Dallas, but in other cities around the country, are some of the most impressive and fearless people I’ve ever known.
