In this inspiring episode of For All the Marbles, Bart interviews Alex Sechopoulos, the 26-year-old Head of Sales and Operations for Mixly USA, a groundbreaking company that bridges music, mixology, and technology. From humble beginnings at a Canadian winery to helping pioneer an innovation that lets you literally taste your favorite song, Alex shares how mentorship, family influence, and sheer driveshaped his entrepreneurial journey. Together, Bart and Alex explore the creative spark behind Mixly’s “Taste the Music” activation, the emotional intelligence behind great sales, and the deeper meaning of balancing ambition with well-being.

Major Takeaways / Learnings:

• Entrepreneurship starts with exposure and mentorship. Alex learned the ropes of running a business by helping at a family-owned winery and being mentored by leaders like Tony and Edie Mack.
• Work ethic is in your DNA, but growth is a choice. Discipline, humility, and curiosity were traits Alex absorbed from his hardworking parents and mentors.
• Creativity meets data at Mixly. Mixly’s concept, matching music’s 28 data parameters (from tempo to energy) with flavor science, was born at a Spotify hackathon by co-founder Henry in Belgium, blending art, emotion, and food science.
• Sales is about trust and curiosity. Alex emphasizes that success comes from helping clients solve problems and having fun while doing it, “We sell fun.”
• Scale through purpose. Whether catering to 20 people or 10,000, Mixly focuses on delivering emotional, memorable, and shareable experiences, what Bart calls “Instagramable, not Googleable.”
• Fulfilment over fear. Entrepreneurship’s greatest reward is ownership of both success and failure: “If I fail, it’s because of me. If I succeed, it’s because of me.”
• Balance drive with grace. Bart and Alex discuss the power of “Do your best but don’t give it your all,” which means preserving your energy for life beyond work.
• Organization is liberation. Alex admits that learning to systemize his thoughts and tasks transformed his productivity and peace of mind.

Memorable Quotes:

• We sell fun.” – Alex Sechopoulos
• “Give me the ball. If I fail, it’s because of me; if I succeed, it’s because of me.” – Alex
• “Do your best—but don’t give it your all.” – Bart & Alex’s shared insight on balance
• “Taste the music. Every song can become an experience.” – Mixly’s mission
• “It’s not about what you can do; it’s about what you can do to help them.” – Alex on customer focus

✨ Why It Matters / How to Use It:
This episode reminds entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders that innovation often lives at the intersection of emotion, science, and service. Whether you’re building a company or leading a team, success comes from curiosity, connection, and consistency and remembering that fun is a strategy, nota distraction. Alex’s story proves that passion with purpose and a willingness to keep learning can turn even the wildest ideas into global movements.

Resources:

Bart Berkey | LinkedIn

Website: Mixly USA

LinkedIn: Alex Sechopoulos