Meet Elisa Pupko | Founder, CEO, & Mom of Two

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisa Pupko and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisa, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
While I was working and auditioning in NYC as an actor, my “day job” was babysitting for families with young children in Brooklyn. One morning, as I was playing dress-up with two 4-year-olds, putting on costumes and making up stories together, I had an “ah-ha” moment that I wanted to create a theatre class that could nurture and encourage the amazing imaginations of young children. I rented a yoga studio once a week, spread the word to the families I worked with, bought a plastic treasure trunk, filled it with themed costumes and props, and Treasure Trunk Theatre was born! The company naturally grew over these past nine years as we expanded into camps, birthday parties, and corporate events. But through it all, we have remained at our core: all about the process, not the product in our programs. This means that kiddos who might be a little nervous to jump into the spotlight have a blast with us! We are all about the experience of imagination and meeting every child where they are naturally.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

When I moved to NYC 15 years ago, my eyes focused on the lights of Broadway. I never could have imagined what I’d create with Treasure Trunk Theatre.

In many ways, starting a business is like being an actor. Lots and lots of hustle, plenty of rejection, unusual working hours, and the habit of always saying, “yes!” (Remember that “Friends” episode?)

I began by teaching a weekly class to a small group of kids in a yoga studio that I rented by the hour. Then a family asked if I could do a class at their child’s birthday party. YES! Then another parent asked if I could offer a week-long camp in the Summer. YES! Then someone asked if they could come assist me while I taught. YES! And so on…

I always say that theatre people can do anything, we say yes, and we know how to figure things out if they don’t go as planned. Entrepreneurs are the same. Over the past nine years of running a growing company, I’ve learned to adapt to the needs of our clients. Sometimes that still means always saying “yes”, but it can also mean saying “no”, if something doesn’t fit with our mission. Keeping our mission hyper-focused, but with eyes open for new opportunities has absolutely led to the growth and expansion Treasure Trunk has achieved today. And through it all, inspiring imagination and dramatic play in young children continues to be my biggest passion.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
NYC has no shortage of amazing sights, food, and fun! Here are my top picks for anyone coming to visit. You’ll notice I’m very Brooklyn focused.

Food:
– Colonie in Brooklyn: Amazing for dinner or brunch, either way, make sure you save room for the Sticky Date Cake for dessert!
– Elsa Bar in Brooklyn: Perfect to pair with a night at Colonie, or on its own. An amazing bar, beautiful backyard, and female owned!
– One Girl Cookies: Locations in Dumbo, Cobble Hill, and Industry City. My absolute favorite cupcakes!
– Poppy’s in Brooklyn: Another female-owned delicious place to visit. No specific recommendations on what to eat, since everything they make is amazing.

Fun:
– Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Don’t miss the best views of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge!
– Brooklyn Bridge Park: An expansive park with something for everyone!
– The Met, followed by a walk through Central Park
– Broadway! Don’t miss catching a show while you’re in town!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A special thank you to Valeen Bhat, founder and owner of Private Picassos in Brooklyn. Not only did she share my info with the Shoutout series, but she has become a fellow business owner, support system and friend. We first “met” through social media during the height of the pandemic even though our businesses are only a neighborhood apart. Running a small business and keeping it running during a pandemic is one of the hardest business challenges I’ve faced. It was incredible to connect with other business owners like Valeen to share our struggles, celebrate our triumphs, and cheer each other on through it all. We’ve since met in person and become big fans of each other’s programs – so much so that my daughter has taken her classes and her son has taken mine!

Website: http://www.treasuretrunktheatre.com/

Instagram: @elisapup & @treasuretrunktheatre

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-pupko-92b5a739/

Image Credits
Nafisa Skeie White wall photo with book: Virginia Freire Group photo with star wands: HiSawyer.com Others: Treasure Trunk Theatre