There are many brands that when you see their branding and symbols you instantly think of that company. From swooshes to arches, your mind quickly thinks of these businesses. But in very few cases a symbol conjures up thoughts of not only the brand but the quality and excellence that the brand exudes. The spirit of ecstasy is one of those monolithic symbols of both Rolls-Royce and pure excellence.
Rolls-Royce for a lot of us is a goal or a benchmark of not just wealth but of success. Being able to sit behind the perfectly crafted wheel, and nuzzle into the fine stitched seats. The car isn’t just a vehicle but a shining example of victory and accomplishment.
Walking into the Rolls-Royce showroom in Orange County, you are greeted very simply by the legacy and excellence you have come to expect from the Double R. I am greeted by a smiling face and a warm welcome. It’s Kellyn Dixon, the brand manager for Rolls-Royce.
Kellyn is poised, strong, and confident. But yet, still so approachable and warm. As you talk more with her you see her drive and desire for excellence. She is unafraid to face any challenge and boldly marches forth. We at NOBLEMAN have had the privilege of working with her and her team on several different occasions and events. With each moment of interaction, it left us thinking, “We must know her more!”
Recently I had the absolute honor to sit down with Kellyn Dixon the brand manager for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Orange County. Kellyn exemplifies the excellence and dedication Rolls-Royce emanates. She shares her struggles, her victories, and her favorite Rolls-Royce moments with us.
Kellyn is a host of a podcast called “Inside the Drive”, where she talks to her guests and Rolls-Royce owners. She allows them to tell their stories of success and failure. “How often do you look and say, ‘I wonder who’s driving that car?’ So I just figured why not create a platform where they can hear the struggle they can hear what it takes to become successful.” Kellyn is not a stranger to failure and loss.
Seeing her family lose everything in the recession in 2008, was a pivotal moment for her. “I knew how I wanted to live, I was not afraid to work for it and I knew I didn’t want to depend on anyone else to get me there.” From launching her tech startup with a business partner, which led to the developer scamming her out of everything. “I was a single mother with no support from my son’s father financially or emotionally. I couldn’t afford to be down. I told myself that I was going to go into the car business until I figured out my next move. Here I am 8 years later.” What looked like a failure at the beginning was the start of a huge new chapter for Kellyn.
She started selling cars at Honda. Kellyn grew up around the automotive industry, so it wasn’t a stretch for her to enter while she needed to get her feet back on the ground. But success came quickly and abundantly. “I was at Honda for only three months. On my final weekend at Honda, I sold 17 cars. 17 cars in one weekend. I beat everyone, I don’t think anyone had ever done that in a weekend.” From that point, she went from Porsche to Bentley and found herself as an integral part of an award-winning Rolls-Royce team.
In 2022 Kellyn and her team won the “Global Bespoke Dealer of the Year” award. An honor very few people claim. She plans on continuing the legacy of Rolls-Royce.”Rolls-Royce is the standard of automotive excellence because of its commitment to craftsmanship, luxurious design, extensive customization options, and heritage.” Kellyn proves to her clients every day why she was awarded such a prestigious honor.
With poise, grit, and vulnerability, Kellyn continues to redefine success in her way. “Success to me is doing something that you love, and then not striving for recognition. I would say 80 percent of my new clients are referrals, these clients are from different cities and even different states. So the fact that a client will reach out to me when they have other options that may be closer to them, It’s very flattering. Something happened recently, I went to a parent-teacher conference and my son’s teacher shared that my son constantly talks about how proud he is of me. That felt like success to me, I’d rather be a celebrity in my own home than anywhere else.”
As I left Rolls-Royce, I was so inspired and encouraged by her that day. Not only did I get to see the apex of excellence in automotive but I was able to receive amazing advice with a genuine smile. If you want to have an experience far beyond just car shopping, book an appointment with Kellyn and you will not be disappointed.
By Tom Burleson
Photography by Irma Lomidze
Styling by Hanna Isaksson
