By all accounts, Thembisa Mshaka is an  entertainment biz industry insider.

From working as a journalist to working on the campaign for Lauryn Hill’s classic album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” and six Nas albums, Mshaka has nearly two-decades of experience and an extensive network that she’s packaged in her book “Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your Entertainment Business.” This guide to breaking and staying in the business includes advice directed at women on how to make it to the top without lying on their backs.

On Friday, Aug. 20, Mshaka – a Mills College alum – will share her insights, read from her book and answer industry questions from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Youth Uprising, 8711 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland. Later that evening she will be at Oakland’s Marcus Books, 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, for a reading and signing from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Mykah Montgomery and Traci “Starchild” Bartlow – who were both featured in “Put Your Dreams First” – also will be on-site to share their stories and advice.

Check out one or both events for insider tips and networking opportunities. For more information about the book, visit www.putyourdreamsfirst.com. To learn more about the Mshaka, visit www.thembisamshaka.com.