Alumni Spotlight: Dan Tilly

A global start to a meaningful journey

After completing business school in Norway in 2019, Dan joined Bank of America as an intern on the Options Sales Desk in Europe. He later interned for the Delta One Desk and shortly thereafter was hired as an analyst before being promoted to an associate. “I couldn’t do what I’m doing today without my time at BofA,” Dan reflected. “It was the first time I had to really stretch myself in a good way. It was an exciting place to work with the markets and everything changing all of the time.”

While working in London at the height of market volatility and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan quickly learned to adapt and find his voice. “I was working with A players -- very talented teammates. Everyone was committed to bringing their best every day, and that challenged me to think differently,” he noted. The fast-paced environment helped him build confidence and develop an entrepreneurial mindset that would later fuel his passion to start his own business. 

So, when the world shifted, Dan shifted too. “I knew I didn’t want to sit in my apartment in London (during the pandemic lock down) -- waiting for whatever, so I packed my bags and two days later I was in New York. One week later I drove to Vermont, and I worked during London hours from my summer home in Vermont. For three years I fired up my computer at 3 a.m. and worked until 2 p.m.”

A new passion: From hobby to business

During his afternoons in Vermont, Dan started brewing beer—a hobby he had been nurturing for over a decade. “I had been brewing at home for 10 years at that point,” he shared. What started as a creative outlet soon grew into something more. “Long story short, eventually it became distracting—where I had to choose one. So, I decided to do it—so I wouldn’t have regrets. It was a super tough decision. I had worked so hard, and I loved my job and the people I worked with.”

In 2021, Dan took the leap and launched Mount Holly Beer Co., shifting from equity sales to entrepreneurship. “The company grew 50% in the first two years -- really big growth,” he proudly noted. “Currently in the fourth year. I have someone working for me now. And we’re distributing beer in two states and potentially three soon -- looking to add another state this summer.”

Dan credits his time at BofA for giving him the courage and skills to pursue his passion. “I tell people all of the time—confidence-wise and a lot of the skills I learned at BofA are totally the reason I’m doing this. I doubt I would have had the courage to go for it had I not had spent time working at BofA,” he reflected.

He’s also found unexpected connections between sales and brewing. “When you work in equity sales, there’s an entrepreneurial, get-stuff-done persona you embody,” Dan said. “Entrepreneurship requires you to figure things out without a bunch of instruction”

Crafting beer and connections worldwide

Beyond brewing, Dan focuses on sourcing the best ingredients and building relationships with growers globally. “A big part of my job is ingredient sourcing and selection. I try to stay away from ordering things from a catalogue, so I work directly with growers in the US and around the world,” he explained. “There’s a grain farmer we work with in Finland, where my parents are from, so I went there a few months ago to select grain for our summer beer.”

For Dan, it’s about more than just the product. “We spend a lot of time making selections and telling the story to our customers about where the beer is coming from,” he added. “It’s in the name of quality.”

Currently, Dan’s business is focused on B2B sales, distributing to liquor stores and small bottle shops in Vermont and beyond. “We’re also working on a tap room to launch this summer,” he shared. “That’s the more complex side of the business, but it’s exciting to think about sharing our beer with customers face-to-face.”

Staying connected

Dan still values the relationships and camaraderie he built at the bank. “I stay in touch with people I worked with in NY and London. And I go to Europe every now and then, so I connect with my boss for dinner,” he concluded. “I feel like I have some life-long friends from BofA. It’s nice to cross paths later in life and see how everyone is doing.”