Episode Summary
Elyse founded Elysium Marketing Group more than a decade ago, and eventually carved out a clear niche in food and franchise marketing while building a team and navigating the realities of motherhood and leadership. She shares the story behind leaving corporate life, betting on herself with real responsibilities at home, and steadily building an agency rooted in curiosity, culture, and commitment.
Episode Highlights
- Launching an agency with a baby at home and going all-in from day one
- The fear of narrowing your positioning and how franchising became the right focus
- Using AI as an efficiency tool without losing judgment or voice
- Elyse’s simplest long-term advice: stay steady and keep going
Agency Info
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Company: Elysium Marketing Group
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Guest: Elyse Lupin
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Year Started: 2015
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Employees: 11-25
I would just tell myself to keep going… it’s all gonna work out. Just keep going.
Elyse Lupin
Commitment Matters More Than Timing
Elyse didn’t start Elysium when life was perfectly set up for entrepreneurship. She started with a mortgage, a stable salary she was walking away from, and a young child at home. Her mindset was simple: if you’re going to do it, do it fully.
Positioning Doesn’t Have to Be a Trap
Like many agency owners, Elyse resisted narrowing her focus at first. The fear of cutting off opportunity felt too risky. Her breakthrough came when she realized franchising offered both clarity and flexibility: a defined lane with enough variety to stay resilient.
A Strong Team Changes Everything
Over time, Elyse found more balance not through hustle, but through building a team of true subject matter experts. As her agency matured, she became less essential in the day-to-day, and the business became healthier because of it.
AI Can Help, But It Can’t Replace Humanity
Elyse is leaning into AI thoughtfully, using it for brainstorming and efficiency while staying aware of its limits. Her team operates with a simple rule: brainstorm first as humans, then bring AI into the process. She also emphasizes that in a more automated world, people need people more than ever, which is why her agency prioritizes real collaboration and connection.
The Long Game Is Just Staying Steady
After 11 years, Elyse’s core advice isn’t complicated. Keep going. Don’t get pulled too high or too low. Stay consistent through the messy middle.
Show Notes
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