Experiential Marketing with Alain S. Levi

This week on the Pixel Retentive Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alain S. Levi, founder and CEO of Motivare, one of the most recognized experiential marketing agencies in Latin America. Alain has over three decades of industry experience and has led over 10,000 projects for major brands like Microsoft, Unilever, PepsiCo, and Mondelez. Starting his career in the early '90s with Unilever, he transitioned from a marketing trainee to a pioneer of experiential marketing, a field that was once considered “below the line.” Today, Alain continues to shape the future of human-focused brand engagement through purpose-driven campaigns and bold creativity.

 

What You’ll Learn:

• What experiential marketing actually means and why it’s becoming more strategic than ever.
• How Alain started Motivare and scaled it into a top-tier agency in Latin America—without selling out.
• Why post-COVID marketing has shifted dramatically toward human connection and real-life experiences.
• The difference between creating consumers vs. fans, and why fandom is the future of brand loyalty.
• How brands like Microsoft, Itaú, and Unilever are integrating experiential touchpoints globally.
• The pivotal story of launching Internet Explorer in Brazil with a spaceship, a blackout, and a full-scale immersive experience.
• Insights into emerging trends: AR/VR, the vintage return to physical interaction, and Liquid Death-style branding.

 

Focus not on the money, but on the quality, the creativity, the innovation, the success - and the money will come." - Alain S. Levi

This quote hits at the heart of Alain’s entrepreneurial philosophy. Over 35 years, he’s resisted offers to sell, stayed independent, and prioritized creative integrity over short-term profits. Alain reminds us that sustainable success isn’t built on greed but on vision, resilience, and obsessing over the craft. It’s a message all creatives should take to heart, especially in a time where shortcuts and surface-level engagement are so common.

 

Overview:

Man, what a powerful conversation this was. Alain dropped story after story - from pioneering trade marketing at Unilever to literally landing a spaceship in a São Paulo park to launch Internet Explorer. We dove deep into how marketing must evolve beyond screens and clicks, toward meaningful human experiences that spark community and fandom. His perspective, sharpened by decades of cultural shifts and business challenges, is a timely reminder that creativity and empathy still win. You’ll walk away inspired to create with purpose and connect with your audience in ways that matter. I know I did.

 

Until next time,
Carl Cleanthes