lllana started her career as a lawyer at one of the world’s top law firms. When her daughter was little, she began introducing her to other moms who, like Illana, had great careers and served as amazing role models. This was her way of teaching her daughter that she could be anything she wanted to be. This experience inspired Illana to found Être in 2016. Être is an organization and website that gives girls the tools they need to change the world. Illana’s book was released on the Day of the Girl, October 11, 2019 and was Amazon’s number one new release in Self Esteem Books for Teens and Young Adults!

Ensuring free access to role models for girls from all backgrounds is vital to our mission, and I am constantly seeking mentors of my own to help navigate this path.

Today we’re celebrating International Day of the Girl by teaming up with our friends at Être to help empower and inspire you to follow your biggest dreams.

Être is a mentorship and resource platform encouraging middle school girls to embrace their passions and become their most authentic selves. Their new book, Être: Girls, Who Do You Want to Be? is out today and we think it’s a must-have for every girl. Whether you dream of inventing your own product or using your voice to change the world, the Être book is the tool you need to make those dreams a reality. Having an idea is the easy part, but taking action or figuring out where to start can hold back even the most brilliant dreams. That’s where this book comes in handy.

Through Être, Illana Raia introduces middle school-aged girls to female executives working in companies like Spotify, Goldman Sachs and the New York Stock Exchange.

Être means “to be.” So, for Illana Raia, Être Girls was the perfect name for a resource for middle and high school. Être Girls uses mentorship to teach girls across the country to be informed, smart, brave, charitable, happy, strong, brave, strong, connected, wise, innovative and well-read. It’s ultimately helping young girls answer the question, who exactly do you want to be?

We got together with Illana to find out more about Être Girls and how middle and high school girls in Stamford can get involved!