Trending for Fall! Top 10 Epic Essentials for Back to School Backpacks…or Briefcases

Whether you are heading back to campus or back to the office, fall is the time we relish the promise of that fresh planner and new gear feeling. And this year feels special. Maybe it’s because we’re peering down hallways that will be actually filled with classmates and colleagues. Perhaps it’s the promise of the long lunch tables, live Q&As and dynamic IRL conversations we’ve been missing. Whatever the reason, fall is around the corner and who doesn’t love a brand-new set of supplies?

Since this newsletter is for both today and tomorrow’s workforce – and we’re loving the way it’s already being shared across generations - here is our Top10 List of Epic Essentials to pack on day one, plus up-to-the-minute social links for our next gen readers:

1. Clubs to join.

Think in-person networking events, 1:1 mentoring sessions and virtual networking layered in. Orgs like Ellevate Network and Luminary offer helpful levels of membership, day passes, selected free events and membership scholarships. Best part? Everyone from interns to C-suite stars roll up their sleeves and get involved.?Next gen joiners: Follow #ellevatenetwork , #weareluminary and #comesitatourtable on social.

2. Events to Attend.

Companies we love like The Wall Street Journal , Forbes and Worth Media Group will be re-opening event doors and bringing speakers we crave to the stage. Watch this fall for Wall Street Journal Women Events, the Forbes Power Women’s Summit and Women & Worth for empowering adds to your calendar. Tomorrow’s attendees: Follow #wsjwomenin and #forbeswomen for the livestream details.

3. Newsletters to Know.

In addition to subscribing to The Epic Mentor Newsletter, there are more you’ll want to favorite. Generation Hired highlights advice and job postings for anyone eyeing, entering or pivoting within the workforce, Love Your Career Brief shares new tips to live our best career lives, and Top Picks is a newsletter curating info about...newsletters! New to newsletters: Follow #LinkedInNewsletters to catch all the latest.

4. Research to Read.

Homework is important, and these data sources have you covered. Head to the Institute for Women's Policy Research for economic equity stats, the Center for American Women in Politics as we look to November, Catalyst Inc. to keep track of women in CEO positions and YPulse for all things Gen Z. Rising researchers: Follow @IWPResearch , @CAWP_RU , @catalystinc and @ypulseinc to show your work.

5. Challenges to Consider.

Confidence matters when it comes to entering competitions, and this is a great year to flex those bravery muscles. Consider nominating your company or colleague for Fast Company ’s World Changing Ideas Awards, or a female entrepreneur to attend Tory Burch Foundation 's Embrace Ambition Summit. Teen challengers: Follow #FCWorldChangingIdeas and #EmbraceAmbition , and then check out 3M 公司 's #YoungScientistChallenge and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration 's #SpaceApps Hackathon for your own challenge and mentor opportunities.

6.?What to Wear.

Fashion is personal, but fall trends are worth noting. InStyle says find the joy, epic mentor Veronica Beard knows blazers are boss, and sneakers might be the new work shoe. Do these trends translate from the boardroom to the classroom? Teen Vogue says you bet. Follow #backtowork , #backtoschool and #falltrends , obv.

7. Ways to Plan.

From Calendly to planners to workbooks and more, you’ll need a plan to make a plan. Check out Hobonichi (they have a cult following for a reason), Any.do and Clever Fox for a start. Pro-tip planners: Follow our mentors at theSkimm for all things #schoolsupplies and don’t miss @myclasstracker ’s goal-tracker gear.

8. Futures to Finance.

Things we plan usually take funding, and fall is a great time to get a head start on saving. Our role models at Ellevest , 高盛 , 摩根士丹利 and 瑞银集团 offer money coaching, workshops and libraries of resources, plus extra help handling student debt – big in the news this week! Student savers: Follow all of the above to own your worth, and @thefrugalfeminista for extra tips.

9. Coaches to Find.

Mentors matter, and whether you find them in the locker room, class room or board room, we can always use some extra advice.?Executive coaches found through your own HR department or externally can change a career trajectory, and we’re slipping this list in our briefcase. JV players: Follow @voiceinsport , @womenssportsfoundation and @girlsontheruninternational for on-the-field encouragement, and @hercampus for rest-of-life coaching needs. Want 180 more mentors in your backpack? We know where to find them .

10. Dreams to Launch.

Ready to send STEM dreams skyward? Don’t miss NASA’s prelaunch, launch, and post-launch activities on August 29th for Artemis I, the uncrewed flight test around the Moon that will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration, and keep following @NASA for more launch pad looks all fall. STEM star seekers: Keep eyes on the NASA App for more podcasts, videos and virtual tours and let the universe come to you.

Because being prepared and well connected can’t start too early.

Want mentor advice IRL? Join a club, attend an event, read the data and find a coach. We’re all heading back to work and back to school this fall – let’s pack our essentials and have an epic year!

Looking forward,

Illana

êXTRAS: Three fall trends être loved last week at the NY NOW Gift Show where we had a booth – a sneak peek to make your back to work or back to school planning even better: a body-sized weighted blanked from NodPod that’s perfectly sized, hilarious co-worker cards at Rhino Parade , and all the lifestyle empowerment accessories one desk can hold at Golden Gems . And for the extra credit...all 3 companies are female founded.