FOUR out of ten small businesses die within their first five years.

It's hard for anyone to a new venture off the ground– let alone someone who is juggling it all with raising children and running a household.

Sometimes it's a struggle just to manage myself, writes Samantha Harman, so how do women who are wives, mothers and business owners manage it all?

To celebrate their success, Tara Howard set up the Venus Awards.

We talk to Tara- and Reading Chronicle's Thames Valley Venus Awards Business Mother of the Year finalists- to find out how they do it.

THE question Tara Howard gets asked most is 'how do you get it all done?'

Not only is Tara a successful businesswoman and founder of the Venus Awards- she is also a mother of four.

She's an ex-commercial pilot and flight instructor who has scaled Everest, has more than 25 years' experience in business, and is now encouraging other women to realise their potential.

When we catch up she is busy preparing for the Thames Valley ceremony, which is taking place at the Hilton Reading on June 9, working on plans for new awards in London, and of course, juggling it all with being a parent.

Phew. It's no wonder she's been described as 'one of the most creative and inspiring women of this age.'

"I don't sleep," Tara jokes, when I ask her favourite question. "No- I just throw myself at it and get on with it."

It's this humble attitude that, I think, makes Tara such a great role model for other women in business.

She talks openly about imposter syndrome and the trouble women have with seeing their own potential.

It's part of the reason she founded the Venus Awards.

"Women undervalue themselves a lot," she says. "[it's been shown in studies] that men tend to overvalue themselves, whereas women tend to think we aren't doing good enough. And when someone comes and says 'you're doing great, you've achieved so much, welldone,' that can be such a boost."

The statistics don't lie. A study in 2015 found women ask for an average of £4,000pa less a year than a man for doing the same job.

When going for more senior positions in fields such as accountancy, this gap widens to £10,000.

That's if the women put themselves forward in the first place. In 2017, women make up a quarter of all senior executives; a number that hasn't much changed over the past 13 years. But is it because the roles aren't open to them– or is it because they don't go for it?

A study looking at men and women in the workplace found men will go for a job for which they think they are 60 per cent qualified. Women will put themselves forward when they feel 100 per cent qualified.

Tara has experienced the 'faking it' feeling herself. She describes how she founded the awards after being encouraged to stand for Entrepreneur of the Year in her home county, Dorset.

She said she felt 'like a bit of a fraud' because she was trying to juggle working with motherhood– and living under the pressure of societal expectations on women.

"It made me think- 'what recognition is there for women?'

"I'm working my guts out here and I don't get any recognition; it's always men.

"And men are worthy of praise- but are they juggling [their business] with everything else [women] are juggling it with?

"What was out there for women like me?"

Juggling is something Tara knows all too well. She's previously spoken about breastfeeding whilst taking business calls.

But the success of the Venus Awards show all that hard work has paid off.

The awards have gone from strength-to-strength since they were founded in 2009.

And the best bit for Tara? Seeing the difference that a small token of recognition can make to a woman's dreams.

"I had one of the nominees for Thames Valley come up to me and say 'before I was just thinking year-to-year. This has given me a real boost and made me think about my 10-year business plan," she says.

Tara adds that businesses are best when men and women work together– that we should view people for the skills they bring, not for their gender.

She says what's been great about the Thames Valley awards is the number of men who are open supporters.

"The could just pay lip service," she says, "but they genuinely care. We've had great support from people like Sir John Madejski and companies like Ikea, and Reading University too."

One of Tara's big aims is to improve equality for women across the world and eventually take the concept of the awards international. But one day at a time. And that's the golden advice she gives to anyone feeling inspired by her achievements. "There's a silver lining to every cloud- there's a way around every obstacle. Believe in yourself and you will find it."

MEET THE FINALISTS

THREE women who know all about juggling career with childcare are the Chronicle's Business Mother of the Year finalists.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, the inspiring trio have shared their top tips for making it happen.

For Anne-Marie Lategan, sometimes work meetings sometimes mean taking daughter Sonya along.

But luckily the nine-year-old is Anne-Marie's biggest fan and will often give her creative input when mum is coming up with new ideas for her fitness and wellbeing business.

"I want her to have a strong role model," says Anne-Marie, "I want her to know that if you work really hard you can have a successful business, and be a mum and have a social life as well."

One of Anne-Marie's secrets to success is making sure she's got a good work-life balance. But that does mean an early start– she's working out at 5am. "I want to make sure I'm home at night to do mum things and help with homework and spend time with my daughter. It's important to have work–life balance, so you don't feel guilty and you get to spend that time with your kids."

But for anyone at the start of the journey– fear not, says Anne-Marie. "It takes a while to get that work-life balance right," she says, "you have to try different things and juggle and see what works for you. And things happen you can't predict, or something goes wrong. Last week my daughter had an accident and we had to spend half a day getting X-rays and so on, so that changed the plans for the day!"

Anne-Marie is founder of Health and Wellbeing Group Ltd, which helps people achieve their fitness goals and does lots of work with those needing rehabilitation. She is also the fitness editor for Women's Running magazine, a director of UK First Aid Courses and– as if that wasn't enough–founded the Ultrabug race.

Ultrabug is a 100km 3-day, fully supported ultra marathon through the winding mountain footpaths, mineral water streams and remote culture rich villages in the Carpathian mountains, Romania.

Growing up in South Africa, Anne-Marie has always had a love of fitness and the outdoors. She's taken part in several tough-terrain marathons, which is how the idea for Ultrabug came about.

"I review different races for the magazine. I tend to say yes to these things and think 'oh dear, what have I signed up for!'" She jokes. "But on a lot of these courses you're unsupported. When I've done these events, I've been left to my own devices. I wanted to create something for people who like the idea of completing an ultra-marathon, but need that additional support."

Anne-Marie describes her work as 'very rewarding'- knowing that she's making a difference to people's lives as well as supporting her family.

"I've always been very sporty, but I definitely think exercise is incredibly beneficial for overall wellbeing for someone in business. It's de-stressing, focuses the mind, gets the blood flowing and releases endorphins. It's about giving people the knowledge and the understanding of how their body works and how they can support it. You see them change their lives."

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Whilst Anne-Marie says it would be 'incredible' to win, she already has a huge fan in her daughter.

"She comes with me to all the awards and events, so she'll definitely be there at the Venus Awards- she's my business partner!"

SOMEONE who's just as humble is our next finalist, Aduke Onafowokan.

"I can think of a million business mothers of the year in my head," she said. "I am very grateful to Reading Chronicle for sponsoring this category and the Venus Awards for the vision. I have met some amazing women through this whole process and I continue to be awed by the amount of potential that women have. I am also grateful to the many women who have contributed to my journey and indeed the journey of all of us women. In a way because my mother walked, I can fly."

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Aduke set up the Sister Sister Network to support other women. She came to the UK to study, met her husband shortly afterwards, and is now a proud mum of two.

"I want to say to all working mums out there–well done! I honestly think we don’t get thanked enough! The challenges we face are unique as each day unfolds. The guilt of leaving your kids versus the guilt of leaving your work is a constant battle. The logistics are also very difficult to navigate, but the best part is the fulfilment being a mother gives you and the fulfilment of working and having your own life as well."

Aduke says she definitely doesn't think it's harder for women in business– but women face very different challenges.

"Women face very unique challenges as a result of historical and cultural principles. For example, issues around gender inequality and gender parity still persist, maternity rights, and also balancing entrepreneurship with the traditional female role within the family and wider community are factors that can potentially affect performance in a competitive space."

As if running a business and being a mother isn't enough on her plate, Aduke is going back to university to study a PhD in Gender Equality in the UK.

The Sister Sister Network is also growing, and Aduke is busy planning the big conference next year (January 27, 2018 at Sonning Golf Club) with some inspirational women from around the country.

"Our central theme for 2018 is celebrating champions and women have defied the odds to pave way for the next woman" she said.

Tickets are on sale now at www.sistersisters.co.uk.

Aduke's advice for women with ambition? It's the best piece she's ever been given herself– 'This is tough, so you must know why you want it, it is the 'why' that will keep you going when everything gets tough.'

BUSINESS owner Catherine Turner is becoming a local poster woman for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Following her success as Female Entrepreneur of the Year in the Slough Business Awards, the 42 year-old Winkfield mum-of-two is the Chronicle's third Thames Valley Business Awards Business Mother of the Year Finalist.

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Catherine was selected by the judges from 55 women nominated in the category.

In the end it was being mum to Olivia, 15, that helped Catherine make the big jump to the final (She also has a son, Finlay, 11).

Mrs Turner, who owns recruitment companies Rapid Search and Interim and Firefly Human Capital in Thames Street, Windsor, was asked to make a 60 second video to put on Youtube when she entered the Venus Awards.

"I remembered that my daughter was doing a GCSE in photography and she got one of her friends at school to make the video. It seemed to do the trick."

Firefly is a recruiting specialist within Finance, Human Resources, Change Management & IT. Catherine is committed to getting the right person in the right job.

Only six months ago, Catherine also won the 'most inspirational leader' prize at the Recruiter's Investing in Talent Awards.

Talking about the Thames Valley Venus Awards, Catherine said she is 'delighted' to have been shortlisted.

Her business has been established for five years, but she has worked in recruitment for more than 20.

Sam Smith, an old friend who works with Catherine in recruitment said she is 'highly motivational' but still manages to have fun in business.

Michael Carter, a colleague, said you rarely come across anyone as 'hard–working as Catherine.'

But perhaps the biggest praise of all comes from Catherine's children, who say that even after a hard day at work, their mum is still really nice when she gets home! They describe her as determined and kind, and, despite a packed work schedule, she's still always there to watch them in their sporting activities.