In this interview, we uncover the story of Brand Elevate and its founder, Marine Lavaupot, as she shares the strategies and insights that have driven her agency’s distinction.
Known as a creative director and serial entrepreneur, as well as for her thoughtful, holistic approach, Marine combines performance-driven results with a deep, mindful perspective. From elevating organizations to shaping impactful brands, she reveals the dynamic processes behind her agency’s work, offering insights into her multifaceted journey.
As the creative director and owner of Brand Elevate, you’ve built a unique digital agency. Let’s dive into your journey. What inspired you to start Brand Elevate?
ML: Brand Elevate came from a desire to use my creative expertise in service to purpose. I knew I couldn’t directly change the world and where it’s going, but with the support of a team, I could amplify organizations that are a force for good.
Brands are a vessel for positive change.
Brands strongly influence our culture and purpose-led companies are a vessel for change. I’ve always felt frustrated to see companies and leaders doing meaningful work not properly communicating what they do. I naturally feel the urge to fill the gap between where they are and their potential. Today, my work focuses on helping organizations tell their stories in a way that's true to their values and meaningful to their audience.
After wearing several creative and strategic hats in different entrepreneurial formats, I saw a need for a new type of digital agency. I wanted to create a collaborative environment where experts could partner with organizations committed to making a positive social and environmental impact. This space would provide the support needed to enhance companies’ messages and brands, ensuring they align with their missions and connect with their audiences effectively.
I wanted to create a collaborative environment where experts could partner with organizations committed to making a positive impact.
Could you share a bit about your journey living and working in four different countries? How did those experiences shape your creative vision of developing brands?
ML: I could write a whole book about this one, so bare with me :)
Originally from France, I’ve had the opportunity to also live in 3 other countries for almost 20 years, an experience that deeply shaped my approach to brand and communication, but also shaped my mindset and my heart.
Slovenia has had the most influence in my life and career. It's the country where I felt grounded in who I was. The country’s eco-conscious mindset is deeply ingrained in the culture. It's just natural to people to respect the forests, the rivers, the mountains... and the streets in general. One of my contributions to EQUA, a sustainable water bottle and wellness startup based in Ljubljana, was to communicate the concrete impact in reducing single-used plastics of their customers when choosing their bottles over a concurrent's products.
It has become vital for brands to be mindful of their environmental and social impact. At Brand Elevate, our clients approach us not just to sell more products, but to convey their values and communicate their deeper responsibilities to our planet and humanity. Sure, this can sound like an unachievable ideology, but I can guaranty that if well tackled, the process empowers us to review organisations' values and act in very concrete ways.
I also lived in Croatia’s where post-war rebuilding gave birth to a strong entrepreneurial hub with an innovation and grit spirit. This made me realize that any organization, regardless of its size or background can thrive, even in challenging markets. Today, brands’ transparency is crucial and storytelling can be used to celebrate a brand’s perseverance and even share mistakes as a part of their journey to tighten the connection with their audience.
We help our clients showcase their expertise while also teaching them how they can leverage their vulnerabilities as unique differentiators.
Bali brought a deeper spiritual connection to my work and ignited in me the wish to integrate a holistic branding methodology. Brand communication is not just reflecting what a company does, but mainly why they do it, their successes and lessons, and the vision of their founder. Alignment with a greater mission is crucial for brands to connect emotionally with their audience. The lifestyle in Bali is also super slow and the culture is daily immersed in ceremony. As a business owner, it has taught me that higher or deeper outcomes can be reached using the power of daily micro-actions.
Living in Bali showed me that building the communication of an organisation is like a meditation.
It takes time and it's good to remember that every marketing asset contributes to the brand.
France is a blend of luxury and high aesthetics, mixed with a laid-back culture. Despite for huge brands and some innovative startups, you could think that many web interfaces in France would benefit from a massive upgrade to improve their user experience, but these companies still work, some of them being very successful despite their chaotic digital presence! It’s a great reminder that...
... to be successful, brands don’t necessarily need to be visible everywhere online. Instead, they need to be “grounded” in a context that makes sense to their activity and their audience.
Being immersed in those cultures definitely expanded my mindset. Today, I’ve built a trustworthy team whose storytelling skills can adapt to the unique values and cultures of different organisations and markets. But at the end of the day, communication remains about connection and people.
Could you tell us about your process when collaborating with purpose-driven organizations?
ML: Our process at Brand Elevate is deep and collaborative. We start by really immersing ourselves in the client's mission—understanding not just what they do, but why they do it. I spend a lot of time with founders to understand the core mission that drives them. Some of them are so caught in the daily tasks of running their business that they have forgotten their initial spark. Our process offers a fantastic support to help them realign with their "why".
Our process offers a fantastic support to help founders realign with their "why".
This is something that really sets Brand Elevate apart - the fact that we truly understand our clients’ missions. But it’s only possible because we don’t work with just any type of client. We choose to support the causes we believe in. It’s the only way that we can come up with genuine, creative, impactful solutions.
After gathering all brand assets, we dive into strategy, where we figure out how to best communicate their brand values through visuals, messaging, and digital experiences.
Every step is about aligning their mission with compelling, creative storytelling, so their brand can resonate deeply with their specific audience.
You've supported wonderful causes. In your opinion, what are the key steps an organization can take to truly elevate their brand?
ML: Elevating a brand starts with clarity. Knowing who you are, what you stand for, and who you're serving. First, organizations need to define their mission and values. Once that’s clear, the next step is consistency across all channels—everything from visual identity to messaging should be born and align with that core purpose. I like to compare branding with a big tree or a planetary system because every brand collateral is so connected to the core.
Authenticity is also key. Brands need to be transparent and true to their story. Consumers today are savvy, and they resonate with brands that are genuine.
People will more likely buy from brands they can align to the owner’s values or story, which is why personal brands are so strong.
Finally, innovation. Brands need to stay relevant by being open to new ideas, technologies, and creative solutions, even when this means to challenge the status quo. Brands are the representation of a certain ideal.
Brands operate as manifestos. They can be great teachers and pave the way towards positive movements.
What’s the most rewarding part of the process for you?
ML: Seeing the real-world impact our work has. When we help a company transform their brand, it’s more than just aesthetics or wording; it's about helping them grow and reach more people who care about their cause.
Branding and marketing done in a conscious and "non-pushy" way can give a new sense of life in a company.
Of course, it’s incredibly fulfilling when a client tells us that after a rebrand or a corporate website overhaul, they’ve tripled their engagement, built stronger connections with their audience, and generated higher revenues.
But what truly brings so much joy to my heart is to see these organizations shine from within with their team members being more connected and aligned to their initial vision. It’s easy to get caught in the daily routine and forget about why they wake up everyday.
Our brand elevation process helps rewire teams to their common mission and sense of belonging, where everything becomes possible for an organization.
Honestly, it’s not rare to witness clients with tears of joy after discovering their new brand strategy or website overhaul.
You’re very involved in your career. How do you balance running an agency and being a mom?
ML: I’m still learning to set boundaries between work and life at home, which is a bit tricky. I’m so passionate about our clients' causes, that I often don’t consider it "work" and can end up doing more than planned. What really helps me though is planning down-time. I get consistent 3-4 times 30min physical trainings a week and try to go for long walks during the weekends.
Most recently, I've been expanding Brand Elevate's team. We’re working on a flexible, family-friendly culture here. Planning down time is a non-negotiable. Taking some weekly scheduled time for your passions, enjoying time with your partner, kids, and friends, reflecting on areas of your life that need improvement and taking action on them can give incredible mental space and help restore balance.
My daughter is also a huge part of my life and contributing to the younger generations is one of my biggest motivations. I'd love to show that it’s possible to pursue your passions, make an impact, and be present to your family.
What’s next for Brand Elevate? Where do you see the agency in the next few years?
ML: As the world continues to evolve and media is saturated with negative news, we’re committed to supporting companies that are a force for good.
Brands have the power to shape culture, influence habits, and impact the future.
At Brand Elevate, our mission is to keep driving positive change elevating the brands we work with.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to further integrate sustainable design practices and conscious marketing into our work. This will be a key focus for us. We’re also eager to collaborate with small and large organizations in the personal development field, innovative health, and mental health fields, and all types of heavy industries ready to reduce their environmental impact.
Ultimately, our vision remains the same: to elevate brands that are making a meaningful, positive impact on the world. Purpose-driven brand development starts with each of us, business owners, customers, parents, teachers... And a special thank you to brand owners who are definitely writing a new manifesto with every communication asset they publish.
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