Eight Back to Campus Tips From The Epic Mentor Guide
What do you wish you knew?"
"What's one thing we shouldn't forget?"
"If you could tell your freshman self anything...?"
Questions casually hanging in the air as suitcases slam shut and packing tape zips. While college drop-offs happen this week and rear-view mirror glances stay imprinted on our minds, the next gen is asking for last-minute mentor missives.
Luckily, today's workforce has acres of them.
When COVID temporarily halted Être's next gen boardroom takeovers, we pivoted quickly and collected workplace questions from girls around the globe. Seeking career advice, interview insight, internship hints and sports team tips, hundreds of girls raised their hands, and when 180 women answered and The Epic Mentor Guide was published, it became not only a book passed from backpack to backpack but a favorite off-to-college gift.
In that spirit, and sending all good vibes to starting freshmen, here are 8 fast pieces of advice pulled from The Epic Mentor Guide to keep in mind as you eye those first hallways - sent with pride from women who've walked them:
Hoda Kotb on resilience and finding your people...
"The key to being successful in the workplace is to surround yourself only with positive people. I love the quote, ‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’ This is true in the workplace, too. Choose wisely… Don't hang around the gossips, or the negative people; find the people who are kind. And do not listen to anyone who says you can’t be both nice and successful. It’s not true. You can be deeply kind and wildly successful. The other important factor is to never quit. It sounds basic, but there is an open road ahead. So many people will drop out, as they cannot handle the long hours, the difficult assignments, and moving from city to city. If you just hang in there, you will find your long runway awaits." - Hoda Kotb, former co-anchor of NBC News' TODAY, former co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, and current founder of JOY 101
Kate T. Parker on marking the moments...
"I always wanted to work in a visual medium. I started with internships at Nickelodeon and Gerlado (yes, that Geraldo!). One of my first jobs out of college was as an editor at CNN and I then moved to work at an ad agency producing commercials. I am very thankful that I had a whole career making things look compelling on screen and then took that knowledge into my photography." - Kate T. Parker, award-winning photographer, New York Times bestselling author and creator of the STRONG IS THE NEW PRETTY photo series
Bobbi Brown on hearing "no" and charting new paths...
"No one likes to be told 'no,' so give yourself a minute to breathe and process it. Then, turn the 'no' into an 'I can.' Start to think of a new plan— find a different door and if you can’t find a door, look for a window. Sometimes it's the sign to do something completely different. Be diligent and trust your next move." - Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, founder and CCO of Jones Road Beauty and The George
Angela Duckworth on getting your grit together...
"Grit is probably not as important as honesty, but it is important. A young adult who is gritty is eagerly pursuing career options that align with their developing interests and values, and does so with a daily dedication to feedback and improvement, and resilience in the face of (inevitable) setbacks." - Angela Duckworth, Professor at UPenn, author of GRIT, co-host of the podcast No Stupid Questions and co-founder of Character Lab
Terrika Foster-Brasby on owning the ball...
"My career path to this profession actually started as a hobby, as writing and debating about sports was always something I did for fun. I took advantage of the opportunities that I were given, and when no opportunities were available, I created them. From hosting an Internet radio show, to believing in myself and applying for a job at ESPN, to networking with everyone I met along the way, I am one of the few people who was able to turn my passion into my profession. For any young woman interested in working at ESPN, or anywhere in the sports industry, yes it is a man’s world but we have certainly found our place in it. Align yourself with a company that is open to the ideas, the values, and understands the importance of women. Continue to work hard, do not compromise your self or your morals, and do not be intimidated by those in the room who may not look like you. It is your uniqueness and your authenticity that will set you apart and that is your strength to conquer whatever you set out to do in the sports industry." - Terrika Foster-Brasby, ESPN WNBA reporter, MLB analyst for the digital show Baseball Tonight Live, analyst for ESPN's Hoops Streams and college basketball shows, and co-host of ESPN YouTube show
Erin McGoff on following your gut...
"For anyone who wants to work in the film industry, just know that: (1) that there are no rules, (2) no one knows what they're doing, (3) be flexible and adapt to change. A director / production company that's really hot this year, might be old news next year, (4) follow your gut, (5) you belong just as much as anyone else, and (6) story is king in this industry. There will always be those with more connections and more money—but at the end of the day, story trumps all." - Erin McGoff, award-winning director, content creator, and founder of AdviceWithErin—a career education platform with over 7M+ followers globally
Amanda Hindlian on meeting your mentor...
"Senior mentors evaporated as I progressed in my career on Wall Street, so I found a better replacement: my own employees. I learned that if I surrounded myself with people who were always willing to tell me the truth -- and I encouraged them to do so with an open door and an open mind -- I would grow and learn from their guidance. Answering your second question about ringing the bell...Do not let anyone allow you to believe that your business will fail. Every entrepreneur overcame obstacles. Look toward the bell podium and away from the naysayers." - Amanda Hindlian, strategic advisor, Former President at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and NYSE's Global Head of Capital Markets
Tai Beauchamp on crushing an internship...
"Focus on building healthy and vibrant relationships whether they are peer-to-peer or with mentors you meet during your internship. And then cultivate them by staying in touch, sharing developments, and asking about ways that you can support them. These will likely be relationships you carry with you throughout your career. This a great time to connect with people who share your interests, who have skillsets you can learn from, and who you can form community with as your career journey progresses over time." - Tai Beauchamp, founder, advisor, brand and media expert, producer and TV host for events including Black Girls Rock!, BET Awards, The Oscars, The Grammy Awards and the NAACP Image Awards
I love these 8 pieces of wisdom and the other 172 featured alongside them in The Epic Mentor Guide. That book is so meaningful to me, not only when I see it on store shelves or in school libraries, but when I reflect on the legendary women who took time out of their packed schedules to answer girls' questions.
As we blink back tears and wave frantically on drop-off day, may we encourage new students to keep asking hard questions...and may leaders like you continue to answer them with joy.
Looking forward,
Illana
ÊXTRAS: Three more pieces of off-to-college advice you won't want to miss: Insights from Her Campus & their community, spotlights from Seventeen & their campus cohorts, and tips from Teen Vogue about what they wish they knew on day one!
