While we specialise in chartering some of the most luxurious aircraft in the world, we believe that Victor is, at its core, a people business. It’s our team—individuals who not only excel in their roles but also contribute to our inclusive and thriving culture—that enables Victor to deliver on its mission and strive to become the world’s leading on-demand charter company.
In this feature, we shine a spotlight on Olivia Carlin, Senior Sales Associate at Victor. Below, Olivia shares her experiences at Victor so far and offers insights into what it’s like to work in a client-facing role within a highly exclusive luxury sector.
Tell us about yourself…
Originally from Surrey, England, I studied Business Management at the University of Nottingham. I now live in South West London and work in the Fulham office as a Senior Sales Associate at Victor. I joined the company in February 2022, and it’s incredible how quickly time has flown—it’s hard to believe it’s already been nearly two and a half years!
What inspired you to join the private aviation industry and Victor?
Growing up around the motorsport industry, I’ve had the privilege of being around some pretty incredible luxury assets. Whenever my family and I would go to Silverstone to watch the Grand Prix I’d see all the helicopters dropping off clients and wonder how complicated it must be for those behind the scenes trying to coordinate so many different travel requirements.
That’s why I was so excited when I heard about Victor through a recruiter. After learning more about the company and understanding how they are trying to shake up the industry through transparency and climate action, I felt like it was a really good fit for me.
Is there anything about the private jet sector that surprised you when you first joined?
Yes, I had no idea how opaque the rest of the market was. It was a surprise to find out that most brokers sell flights to their clients without telling them the name of the operator or aircraft tail number.
I think that’s a major unique selling point for Victor. We’re not afraid of giving our clients all the information they need to make an informed decision. I know my clients value our transparency and customer-centric approach. Without a doubt, my main piece of advice to anyone looking to book a private jet for the first time would be to make sure your broker is giving you the basic facts before you book.
Can you share a memorable experience from your time at Victor?
There are two highlights that really stand out for me. One is more of a professional achievement while the other is more a perk that comes with the job.
The first one is when I booked my first Lineage 1000. When I first joined everyone spoke about how this is a milestone for an account manager with it being one of the largest jets available on the charter market. In this particular instance, I was organising a roundtrip for 18 passengers going from Newquay, Cornwall, to Geneva Switzerland to visit a luxury watch factory. The fact that the trip was a success, and the client was so happy made it all the more satisfying.
The other memorable experience for me was when I was able to secure an empty leg flight from Biggin Hill, London to Palma De Mallorca to celebrate my mum’s 60th birthday. It’s not every day we get to fly on private jets, but we do sometimes get lucky with an opportunity to jump on an empty leg flight if the stars are aligned. Not only was this a special memory to give my mother on her birthday, but it was also a reminder of how incredible our industry really is. When you’re working behind the scenes sometimes you can forget how fortunate we are to be working in this sector, so it’s great to have that first-hand experience from a client’s perspective.
If you could fly with Victor to anywhere in the world, what aircraft would you choose, which destination, and why?
I would probably fly from London to San Diego, California, where some of my family members live. My aircraft of choice would definitely be the Gulfstream G650. Last year we had the opportunity to visit the Gulfstream office in Mayfair, where we had an engaging and insightful presentation from Gavin Thompson, Regional Sales Manager. I was so impressed by the quality of their aircraft and it would be great to experience first-hand how quiet the engines are during take-off.
What are your personal goals or aspirations within the private jet sector?
The ultimate goal for me would be to become a VP of Sales at Victor. The sector as a whole still has a long way to go when it comes to female representation so I would feel particularly proud to be among the few female Vice Presidents in business aviation. Apart from that, I’m eager to keep developing relationships with some of the most interesting and influential people in the world. I’m in a unique position where I can assist these people in a way that helps them to fly responsibly and that’s certainly an exciting place to be at this point in my career.
