Issa Rae recently spoke to InStyle about her latest project, a collaboration with Shipt to provide mentorship to kids heading to college. Issa personally mentored four kids who are headed to Howard University. That’s so amazing – I wish there was a program like this before I went to college, and advice from someone like Issa is invaluable. I hope those youths were paying attention! Issa also shared some advice for everyone in her InStyle interview:

Advice for the youths: “I tell young people [just starting out in their careers] to search for other young people who are just as hungry as they are and collaborate with one another. I think there’s such a power in working with the people next to you and building together.”

Mentoring Howard students: “I come from a family of HBCU [graduates]. My brothers went to an HBCU, and the Shipt leadership team went to HBCUs, so my support for [the schools comes] naturally. It was just an easy collaboration.”

The best advice she ever got: “One piece of advice I’ve never forgotten from another woman is to not be afraid to be a bitch. That is such a worry of mine just even as a leader in how you come across, and that worry in the back of your mind can inhibit you from saying how you really feel… Obviously, you don’t have to be mean about certain things, but that fear of speaking your truth shouldn’t prevent you from doing it.”

Don’t play by the rules: “[The worst piece of advice I’ve ever gotten is] ‘do it the traditional way.’ That means following the rules, waiting for someone to choose you, waiting to break in with other people’s permission, and that just … that didn’t suit me, so I’m glad I didn’t listen.”

Fashion never goes out of style. “When people in fashion say certain things have ‘gone out of style?’ I think that’s bullsh-t. I think that if certain items of clothing define you or for a period of time seem to be out of season, wear it — that’s you, and you can make it fashionable again. For me, nothing goes out of season. If you want to wear low-rise jeans till 2073, then that’s your right. It’ll probably be back by that time.”

What would she do differently: “I would do my twenties even dumber if I could,” she says with a laugh. “Be dumb in your twenties!”

Her biggest fear: “I love to work. My fear is being seen as lazy. My mom, she’s always been like, ‘Just don’t be lazy!’ My dad has been a hard worker all my life. … But I’m also a Capricorn at heart. Apparently, we love to work. At a young age, I used to want to keep myself busy—like giving myself homework when I was super young. I just love to build and do things.”

[From InStyle]

I totally agree with her about not being afraid to be a bitch, and I’ll add something to that advice for the youths: don’t be afraid to set your professional boundaries very early in a job. I think with women in particular, we want to “prove” ourselves and we take on a lot and let a lot of bullsh-t slide. Early in a job, if something isn’t sitting right or someone says something inappropriate, set your boundary right there. I also agree with her about fashion, especially given how quickly all of these fashion eras are cycling back in. Just… wear what you want and don’t pay attention to the trends. It’s easier to say that now, when every blouse looks like a Renaissance Faire f–ked a pirate ship. Basically, I miss the clean lines of the late ‘90s.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid and Cover Images.