Named one the first 250 entrepreneurs on the Forbes Next 1000 List, Illana Raia is the founder and CEO of Être - a mentorship platform for girls. Believing that mentors matter as early as middle school, Illana brings girls directly into companies they select to meet female leaders face to face.
Être's Current State of Girls' Confidence Survey & How Mentors are Slamming the Confidence Gap Shut Like Lockers
As Seen In
In the Convo
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Illana is the author of two award-winning books, THE EPIC MENTOR GUIDE and ÊTRE: GIRLS, WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE, and has published 60+ articles for HuffPost, Thrive Global, Ms.Magazine and Mogul. Interviewing global leaders and industry luminaries, Illana breaks down weighty topics for tomorrow's workforce, and thinks no one is too young to learn from big minds.
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Illana speaks on topics including how she started Être and why early mentorship is crucial for girls, what recent data tells us about mentorship and the confidence gap, the struggles and innovative successes of today's female leaders, and how epic mentors in all industries are building a pipeline for girls into the workforce - encouraging them to raise their hands instead of lowering their standards.
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Bring epic mentors into your company, school or home with Illana! Arrange a boardroom visit with local girls learning from your executives, establish an after-school mentorship club in your community, or sign up for a 1:1 mentor session with Illana. Topics might include finding a first internship, brainstorming college essay topics, springboarding a non-profit idea or practicing TED or public speaking skills. Mentors matter - and Illana can help you find one!
Awards & Honors
The Epic Mentor Guide
Imagine if you found the perfect mentor before you actually started work? Now imagine you could ask her anything. The Epic Mentor Guide matches questions from girls eyeing and entering the workforce with answers from 180 boss women already there.
Wondering what it’s like to be the first female coach or general manager of any men’s professional sports team? Ask Nancy Lieberman or Kim Ng.
Want to know what Veronica Beard thinks you should wear to work, why Tyra Banks over-prepares for every meeting, how Haben Girma graduated Harvard Law School deaf and blind, or what Bobbi Brown wants you to do when you hear the word no at work? We did too.
Published Books
“The Epic Mentor Guide: Insider Advice for Girls Eyeing the Workforce from 180 Boss Women Who Know is the advice almanac that ambitious young women never had but desperately needed.”
Être: Girls, Who Do You Want To Be?
Être means "to be." And girls, middle school is not too young to ask yourself this all-important question: Who do YOU want to be? Think of this book as a smart big sister in your backpack, encouraging you to stick with what you love and helping you springboard your authentic interests into more.
SO . . . WHAT IS ÊTRE? A bold, full color magazine-style collection of articles breaking down big ideas like financial confidence, mentorship, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship for today's motivated girls. Organized by topic (#BeSmart, #BeWi$e, #BeInnovative), and featuring Insta-inspired graphics, Être offers wise words to world-changing girls . . . at exactly the right time.
WHO'S IN IT? Get ready for empowering quotes and interviews from luminary women alongside input from inspiring girls across the country.
WHO'S IT FOR? Middle and high school girls everywhere . . . and the moms, big sisters, and cool aunts reading over their shoulders.
“This is brillant…The best advice from the best of the best!"
Hoda Kotb
Today Show
“Reading The Epic Mentor Guide is like experiencing a turbo internship across 180 career topics at the coolest companies. Every girl thinking about her career needs to read this.”
Claudia Chan
Creator of the S.H.E Summit + The Whole-Life Leadership Method
“The Epic Mentor Guide brings girls behind the scenes and into boardrooms at exactly the right time. For every girl building a bold, brave future this is the book you need."
Reshma Saujani
Founder of Girls Who Code and The Marshall Plan for Moms
“The Epic Mentor Guide gives girls an inside look into today’s workforce, hearing from leaders who remember what it felt like to walk into work on day one, and what lies ahead…so they are well-prepared to claim their seat at the table!”
Cate Luzio
Founder and CEO of Luminary
“The Epic Mentor Guide gives young women a powerful guide to take the best steps in their leadership journeys while also providing role models and support systems to drive their passion further.”
Gitanjali Rao
Author, STEM Promoter, Young Innovator, and TIME’s First-Ever Kid of the Year
“This is a ‘must-read, follow on social, and re-read’ for any next gen mogul taking stock of today’s job market!”
Tiffany Pham
Founder and CEO, Mogul and Author of You Are A Mogul and Girl Mogul
“I'm honored to be in such good company with some incredible leaders in The Epic Mentor Guide...with must-read advice from over 100 game-changing women.”
Shelley Zalis
CEO of The Female Quotient
“What I love most about this book is the array of phenomenal women who have lined up to share wisdom and offer advice to the next generation on topics ranging from skills and strategies, entrepreneurship and leadership, grit, guts, and goals!”
Jayshree Seth
3M Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate
