Issa Rae received the Entertainment Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Variety’s Power of Women event on Wednesday in Beverly Hills. The award was presented by U.S. Bank’s Courtney Kelso, highlighting Rae’s contributions as an Emmy-nominated actress, writer, producer, and entrepreneur.
Rae, known for creating and starring in HBO’s “Insecure,” acknowledged the challenges around her in her acceptance speech. She humorously noted that the current chaos—from industry strife to climate issues—is predominantly men’s doing and expressed the difficulty of feeling powerful amidst these challenges.
She emphasized the importance of focusing on what one can control, stating, “I can decide who I’m around, who I work with,” and underscored her commitment to using her influence for the benefit of her community.
Rae concluded her speech with a call to action for everyone to recognize their power and use it positively. Her extensive career includes roles in projects like “Barbie,” “American Fiction,” and the HBO Max series “Young Love.” She is also set to write and produce a new HBO comedy pilot centered on male friendship.
