Leading With Kindness
Elizabeth Anne Russell is teaching the next generation more than just good manners
In a world that often feels hurried and disconnected, Elizabeth Anne Russell is on a mission to bring back kindness, confidence, and the lost art of good manners. As founder of Mannerly and the Charlotte School of Etiquette, she’s helping a new generation learn that social skills aren’t just about forks and napkins—they’re about making people feel seen, respected, and at ease. What started as a way to honor her late mother’s legacy has grown into a movement to reclaim the value of grace in everyday life.
Russell’s mother, a nationally respected etiquette teacher, instilled in her a deep appreciation for social grace and human connection. From cotillion classes to place settings, Russell absorbed it all. But when her mother passed away during her senior year of college, that world seemed to pause.
After college, Russell entered the corporate world, started a family, and found herself looking for etiquette classes for her own children, just as her mother had once provided. When she couldn’t find what she was looking for, she created Charlotte School of Etiquette.
Today it operates under the brand Mannerly, which includes children’s programming, teen and professional etiquette sessions, and corporate and professional training. Students learn table manners, gift-giving, polite conversation, and inclusion strategies. “A handwritten note is a quiet rebellion against the world asking us to go faster,” Russell says. “It’s a way to pause and show someone they matter.”
Beyond the Silverware
While etiquette is often associated with formal rules—salad forks and napkin placement—Russell is quick to point out the distinction between etiquette and manners. Etiquette is the form. Manners are the heart.
And that heart is the foundation of her mission: to help people of all ages move through life with confidence and kindness. “People are important,” she says. “Manners aren’t about perfection—they’re about making others feel comfortable and confident. That’s a skill every child can learn.”
Where Manners Meet Confidence
Through Charlotte School of Etiquette, the children’s etiquette arm of the Mannerly brand, Russell offers fun, engaging classes for children that include lessons on introducing oneself with confidence, making eye contact, asking thoughtful questions, and navigating tricky social situations with respect and empathy.
Classes for boys might focus on how to be a gentleman, while girls learn the power of “goodness and grace.” At their core, each lesson helps kids feel at ease in any setting—whether they’re in a lunch line, at a friend’s house, or meeting someone new.
“We’re not born knowing these things,” Russell says. “Just like riding a bike, these are learned skills. And it’s a joy to come alongside parents to help teach them.”
Early Etiquette, Lifelong Impact
Parents can incorporate etiquette into daily life with a few simple, meaningful habits:
- Teach children how to introduce themselves (and a friend) with a smile, handshake, and eye contact.
- Encourage thoughtful conversations by modeling how to ask open-ended questions.
- Help kids practice scripts for speaking to adults, like asking a librarian for help or ordering their own meal.
- Discuss how to navigate disagreements with kindness and listen actively.
- Emphasize inclusion and making others feel welcome.
In a fast-paced, screen-driven world, true connection is a skill worth teaching. Russell’s work is a gentle reminder that manners aren’t outdated—they’re essential, and they never go out of style.
To learn more or get in touch, visit www.mannerly.com or email info@mannerly.com.
JENNA MICHAEL is a wife, mother, author, and coach who helps families embrace a simpler, more intentional way of living. She is the author of Let’s Choose Less and founder of Your Purposeful Parenting. Learn more or grab your copy at yourpurposefulparenting.com.
