Every morning at about 5 a.m., young and ambitious Lara Araoui grabs her “can’t-live-without” cup of coffee and gets ready to sprint through the hustle and bustle of a day even busier than the one before. Indeed, the corporate world can be pretty taxing on the unstoppable career woman who runs three companies that she helped build from scratch. Yet, when the clock strikes 2:00 p.m., Lara gets the best feeling in the world “I go to pick up my kids from school, and that’s when I feel my day has just begun!”

Like some women in the Middle East who are living out the same life, Lara has managed to overcome the social pressures of having to quit her career in order to maintain her devoted motherhood. “I have put a lot of effort into juggling both worlds, and with time I have become dexterous” She admits.

Being the perfect model for the working mother going the extra mile to feel self-accomplished in her career while she simultaneously raises a well-nurtured family, etcetera has made Lara Araoui their Ambassador of super moms. Her first mission will be to endow us with the secrets behind her supermom powers; how she pulls it off.

Lara offers us some tips for getting the best of both worlds: a striving career and a fulfilling home life:

1. Get Your Priorities Straight
Differentiating between tasks that are absolutely urgent and those that can be delayed is a crucially acquired skill. This enables any working mother to make effective use of the time she has. “Know when you need to focus solely on work and when your kids should come first!” Lara affirms.

2. Master the Art of Time Management
Thinking of the “million things” you have to do will only overwhelm you. “Remember that you don’t have to do it all at once” Lara assures; work in phases “Scheduling your errands over different stages of your day and checking off one thing at a time on your to-do list will help you manage”.

3. Listen to Your Body
Busy people often regard long hours of sleep as a waste of valuable time, which might be invested in more useful ways. “Resting your body and mind is a productive process in itself! If you’re lucky enough, you should get at least 7 hours of sleep per night to maximize your productivity the next day”, advises Lara “Also, boost your energy by taking vitamins and try your best to make time for working out.”

4. Get the Kids on Board
“I cannot stress enough about the importance of having good communication skills with your children” affirms Lara “A working mother should always paint a clear picture to them about her duties, responsibilities, and effort that she makes to balance out her work and personal life”. Lara adds: “Don’t burden the children with any unnecessary information, but include them so that they can learn to be more independent and cope with the situation”. Consistent discipline and setting rules at home are key for making it easier to manage both sides of life.

5. Prove Mahatma Gandhi Wrong
“It's easy to stand in the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone”. Well, sometimes it takes courage to ask for all the help you can get! “As a working mother, it is very vital to be surrounded by supportive people who will make your life easier. I once went through a rough month and a half where I had absolutely no help around the house” Lara recalls “That can be a tornado for any mother with 3 kids below the age of 5. I was lucky to have had my mother next to me at the time because I was working around the clock. I wasn’t as productive as I usually am, but at least it was temporary, and I was able to finish the day-to-day tasks. Help is indispensable!”  

6. Make Mindful Compromises
Such a demanding life often calls for adaptation, which means; compromise and sacrifice: “Even though dividing my time between my work and my family leaves me with no time for the hobbies I like. The demands on my time, body and personal spaces shifted irreversibly”, admits Lara “I regard this as a willful compromise I have made. A compromise made consciously will never feel like an obligation”

7. Two Should Play that Game 
It also goes without saying that the support of a partner makes life much easier. “Luckily, my husband and I work together, so he is very understanding”, says Lara “A husband needs to fathom that he is not a visitor in his own house and that he has to share the responsibilities with his wife and be good role model for his children.”

Lara hopes to influence other working mothers and constantly shares her experience to empower them further. “I am still learning everyday, but my true aim is be an inspiration in the eyes of my husband and my children,” concludes Lara.  
 

Lara holds a BA in Marketing from the Lebanese American University. For over 18 years of experience in the business and marketing fields, she landed the title of Business Development Manager of a holding company whereby she became an asset in positioning its businesses in the market and held senior roles over the years in strategic planning, sales and marketing. In 2015, Lara has been promoted to Managing Director and Partner.