Liz Manly ’27 (left) pitches during the February 2026 TIA Incubator session before a panel that included Madeline Bayliss ’76 (middle) and Kelly Springer, founder of Kelly’s Choice.
When first interviewed as part of TIA’s Idea Squad, ’27 expressed that rather than building a business from scratch, she wanted to join an existing venture in a supporting role. However, once she officially joined the TIA Incubator, Manly realized she could transform her desire to help her peers into a venture itself. Enter ERM Advising. Since establishing the firm, Manly has connected with ’26, founder of , and , founder of Kelly’s Choice. These relationships have allowed the entrepreneurs to learn from each other, ultimately strengthening both ERM and the ventures Manly works with.
“Students in TIA may be really excited and energized about their entrepreneurial pursuits, but also may be feeling stuck or need help moving forward. I come in with an objective perspective to provide guidance and recommendations with pricing and strategy to help TIA students build their ventures with strong foundations in the early stages,” explained Manly.
Manly intended for ERM to operate as a for-profit business in the future but needed a couple of “guinea pigs” to help her learn more about the market. Through her mentors in TIA, she was introduced to another aspiring entrepreneur who was similarly finding her footing in the TIA Incubator. Hanlon joined the program as a senior in hopes of finding a way to turn her passion for photography into a viable business. With Manly’s help, Hanlon was able to develop Edits by Ellrose, a multimedia production venture that aims to enhance storytelling of brands, individuals, and events. Since graduating, she has moved to Boston to pursue Edits by Ellrose—now rebranding to Hanlon House Studios—full-time.
“We realized there was this really cool synergy that could happen if we came together and helped each other. We both were feeling a little stuck ourselves, so together Ellrose became my first client and offered a really important testimonial while I helped her develop a strategic pricing plan. Working with Ellrose was wonderful and really enriching. It was the first opportunity I had to dive into industry research while developing and refining my research process,” Manly recalled.
Both Hanlon and Manly regard their time working together as highly valuable and informative. The main focus of their partnership was developing a concrete pricing plan for Edits by Ellrose. Hanlon noted that Manly’s business perspective complemented her venture perfectly, allowing the budding photographer to focus on the creative side while her advisor conducted research. Manly was able to help Hanlon develop a business foundation and build her confidence so that she could be better compensated for her work. Earlier in the semester, Hanlon was unsure of whether or not she would continue Edits by Ellrose after graduation, but after working with Manly, all uncertainty is behind her.
“I feel very fortunate to have been her first client,” said Hanlon. “What I’ve really taken away from the relationship is the value of an outside perspective, someone who can see your business clearly when you’re too close to it. It’s also shown me how useful it can be to collaborate with other ventures. Being in TIA together meant we were both growing at the same time, and supporting each other made both of our work stronger.”
Edits by Ellrose was the first venture to partner with ERM Advising, but certainly not the last. At the February TIA Incubator session, keynote speaker Kelly Springer was moved by Manly’s pitch. Springer later expressed interest in onboarding Manly as an advisor for Kelly’s Choice, a company that encourages healthy eating with more than 100 consulting nutritionists. Since gaining Springer as an additional client testimonial, Manly has learned more about what businesses can look like across industries and stages.
“My biggest takeaway from working with them has been to always prioritize the entrepreneur and the core of their venture first. I really try to gain a deep understanding of the venture, its mission and goal, and its current shortcomings. By gaining a holistic understanding of the venture, I have found that I am better able to step into very different ventures and industries while developing solutions,” Manly expressed.
After spending this past semester testing the waters and researching the market, Manly is preparing to dive into TIA advising this fall. She will spend this summer reflecting on her work with Kelly’s Choice and Edits by Ellrose in addition to interning for one of her TIA mentors, ’03. With these formative experiences, Manly is well-prepared to make a lasting impact on the TIA community and future entrepreneurs alike.