Reflections Of An Icon: Leveling Up With Joseph Trujillo

If you’ve ever met Joseph Trujillo in person, followed him on social media, or watched him speak on a big stage, one word likely comes to mind—modern-day icon. Defined as a person or thing widely admired for having significant influence in a particular sphere, the term "icon" perfectly describes Mr. Trujillo as an industry leader. From his extensive career in various three-letter government agencies to his rise as a star in the real estate world, not to mention his roles as a nationally recognized public speaker and a fashion aficionado, Joseph truly embodies the essence of what it means to be a person of influence.

Who Is Joseph Trujillo?

Joseph's illustrious career began through inspiration to continue his father’s legacy as a Marine. With that, he enrolled in the Marine Corps at the young age of 18 and followed it with four years in the reserves. He then transitioned to the Department of Justice, where he worked on RICO indictment cases and criminal investigations. After 9/11, he moved to the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on counter-terrorism and intelligence for 12 years, eventually retiring as an executive. He truly is an anomaly in the sense that rarely ever does a person rise to the top 1% of their industry and retire, let alone embark on and succeed not once but three times in one lifetime.

Despite the prospect of continuing his government career for another 5 to 10 years, Joseph pivoted to real estate, joining EXP Realty in 2018 and from the onset positioned himself as a forbibale leader from inception with record breaking number in production. 

Joseph swiftly made his mark in real estate, selling over 400 homes in his early years. However, he soon realized that EXP's team-oriented business model offered a unique financial legacy component. Leveraging his leadership and organizational skills, he shifted his focus to recruitment, attracting top agents from across the United States and globally. Over the past five years, his team has expanded into over six countries, contributing to EXP's claim as the largest independent real estate company worldwide. Unsurprisingly, Joseph ranks in the top 1% within the organization.

What Is Joseph Most Passionate About?

Now stepping back from active sales, Joseph dedicates himself to training and developing agents, with a particular focus on leadership development. He spends a significant amount of time with his leadership team across 13 offices, shaping the future of real estate professionals.

What Inspired Him to Join ILA

"The opportunity to connect with other leaders across various industries was very important to me. I've been seeking this kind of connection in other areas of my business and personal life as well," explains Joseph Trujillo. His passion for making a positive impact in the organizations he is involved with led him to accept the role of ILA’s U.S. Ambassador. "I want to utilize my skills in leadership and organizational development to help ILA expand its market share and ultimately its impact," he adds.

What Sparked Mr. Trujillo’s Interest in Fashion?

Joseph's interest in fashion stems from his early years growing up in the inner city of Los Angeles. "I didn’t have a change of clothes for every day. It made sense to iron the same clothes so that they appeared new," he recalls. This necessity turned into a skill—he prides himself on being able to iron better than any dry cleaner. His military service further influenced his sense of style, especially the pride he took in wearing his Marine Corps dress blues, which he viewed as clothing of honor. "This appreciation for dressing well continued through my government career and into my entrepreneurial ventures," Joseph reflects. He has been involved in launching two clothing brands, underscoring his long-standing attraction to the fashion industry.

Favorite Brands

On business days, Joseph prefers the sophistication of designers like Tom Ford and Dolce & Gabbana. For casual outings, he opts for the comfort of Michael Jordan tennis shoes, blending style with relaxation.

What Joseph Hopes to Achieve Next

Looking ahead, Joseph Trujillo is set on scaling new heights with his EXP Realty team. "Our goal is to grow from 1,300 to over 10,000 agents as EXP aims to increase its global presence from 90,000 to 1 million agents in the next five to ten years," he states ambitiously.