We recently connected with Illana Raia and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Illana , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem largely thanks to the incredible women who’ve been part of my life. My grandmother, for instance, graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1936—a remarkable achievement, especially for a woman at that time. Her determination and pioneering spirit left a lasting impression on me.
Then there’s my mom. Watching her juggle careers as a nurse, artist, writer, lawyer, and eventually as the director of a bioethics department at a major medical center was nothing short of inspiring. She taught me to focus on what truly matters rather than getting caught up in superficial concerns, which really shaped my understanding of confidence.
Growing up in a home where empowerment was lived out every day, I learned that I could aim high and chase my dreams without hesitation. The lessons from my grandmother and the example set by my mom, along with the amazing women I’ve met throughout my career, have all played a big role in building my self-esteem. Now, I’m passionate about helping young girls access strong female role models early in their own lives, so they can also step into their own confidence and potential.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The idea for Être came from a personal experience I had while working as a corporate lawyer at Skadden Arps. I was fortunate to have a fantastic mentor, the youngest partner the firm had ever promoted. She was an amazing guide, but I realized my daughter didn’t really understand what I did or what my impressive friends were up to. To her, these high-achieving women were simply friendly faces – and I wanted her to witness more.
Seeing how much female mentorship had helped me, I was eager to share that experience with my daughter and others like her. So, I began introducing her to some of my friends who were leaders in their fields, encouraging her to ask questions and learn about their careers. That’s when I thought, “What if I could create a way to connect other girls with these kinds of opportunities?”
That’s how Être started. We launched in 2016 with the goal of bringing girls face-to-face with female leaders, showing them what’s possible through real, personal connections. Since then, we’ve connected thousands of girls around the world with mentors and have worked with incredible women like Gloria Steinem, Tyra Banks, and Lilly Ledbetter. We’ve reached girls in seven countries and engaged with more than 300 female mentors.
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the growth of the girls with whom we work. It’s amazing to watch them springboard into leaders themselves. For example, Chloé Bryan, who made her Broadway debut at just 10, is now an advisory board member for Être and is releasing her first music single this week. Laalitya Acharya, a social justice and STEM advocate, founded The Nereid Project and is a junior at Columbia. And Sophie Crowder, a STEM activist and NASA scholar, is a sophomore at the University of Virginia and gave an extraordinary Être TED-Ed Talk.
What makes Être truly special is the deep connection we continue to build with our mentors. None of these inspiring stories would be possible without the generosity of these leaders, who make time for candid conversations and deeply impactful interactions.
Through Être, we’re helping girls see themselves in roles they might not have imagined before, proving that they can achieve whatever they dream. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m thrilled to be part of this growth.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, there are three qualities that really stand out as having shaped my journey: mentorship, confidence, and curiosity. Each one has been incredibly impactful in its own way.
Mentorship has been a game-changer for me. The strong women who guided me throughout my life and career were instrumental. They taught me resilience, helped me balance work and life, and showed me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. My advice for those just starting out is to remember that connections are everything. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people in fields that interest you. Start early, do your research, and don’t hesitate to make those connections. The support you’ll gain from mentors – whether they last a short while or the duration of a career – can be transformative.
Next is confidence. Growing up with such inspiring role models taught me that believing in yourself is crucial. Confidence starts with recognizing your own worth and capabilities. It’s not always easy, and there will be moments of significant doubt, but leaning on your support network—whether that’s family, friends, or mentors— is key. They remind you of your strengths and help you keep going when things get tough.
And then there’s curiosity. I’m a big believer in staying curious and acting on that curiosity. I often tell girls to “raise their hands instead of lowering their standards.” This means being proactive—asking questions, helping others, volunteering your expertise and seeking out mentors. When you’re curious and take steps based on that curiosity, you not only learn more but also build your confidence and open doors to new opportunities.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes! At Être, we’re always on the lookout for smart companies led by women who are excited to mentor and inspire the next generation of young girls. We believe that having strong female role models is incredibly powerful, and we’re eager to connect our girls with leaders who have founded forward-looking businesses.
We’re open to a variety of collaborations—whether it’s through shadowing events, brand partnerships, capsule products inspired by girls or any other way to build a supportive community where women can share their experiences and successes.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, we’d love to hear from you! You can check out more about what we’re up to on our website Etregirls.com or follow us on Instagram @etregirls. Let’s explore how we can work together to empower young girls and make a difference!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etregirls.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etregirls/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Etregirls/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/%C3%AAtre-girls/
- Twitter: https://x.com/etregirls
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@etregirls
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