Gretchen Teichgraeber ’75

Scientific American's CEO on managing people, kids and risk

"WHEN I GOT INTO DARTMOUTH MY FATHERWAS REALLY PLEASED, not because it was an academic achievement or a top-notch learning environment, but because I'd be with a lot of 'nice boys' and might find the right kind of husband."

"HAVING SPENT MY FORMATIVE YEARS ATALL-GIRLS SCHOOLS, AT DARTMOUTH ILEARNED I COULD COMPETE WITH MEN. I also realized that there wasn't much dif ference between the sexes in the class room."

"DURING MY YEARS IN PUBLISHING THEREHAVE BEEN TIMES I'VE BEEN THE ONLYWOMAN IN A MEETING AND THAT HASN'T

BOTHERED MEAT ALL. Frankly,ldon't pay attention to whether it's men or women around a table. Business needs to get done and you do it.

"THE KIND OF LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION THAT DARTMOUTH PROVIDES IS GREAT PREPARATION FOR WHATEVER YOU DO. You learn how to look broadly at information, how to see trends, how to analyze. Those skills are very valuable in business as well as in other professions."

"I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE THAT COLLEGE, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE HUMANITIES, IS A WONDERFULLY IN DULGENT TIME when you can im merse yourself in study. Not many people can do that afterwards."

"LEADERSHIP REQUIRES A VISION, knowing how to get from here to there. It's helpful when you are liked, but it's more important to inspire confidence that you will lead in the right direction."

"I HATE WAITING IN LINES, WAITINGFOB ELEVATORS, WAITING FOR LIGHTS TOCHANGE. I knew I was over the edge one day when I almost dragged my kids out of Baskin-Robbins rather than wait three more minutes.All they wanted wasice

"WHEN I'M FEELING STRESSED I GET ON MY NORDIC TRACK WITH SOME LIGHT READING."

"BUSINESS is CYCLICAL. Having that perspective gained through years of experience helps you know you can meet the challenges of most economic cycles and solve thorny problems. It does not lessen the pressure to figure things out, but you know you will figure them out."

"WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING PEOPLE, I LIKE TO HIRE TALENTED PEOPLE, give them the responsibility and let them flourish. I've been on the receiving end of that approach and it's helped me accomplish."

"YOU CAN TEACH CHILDREN IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS IN THE CONTEXT OF SPORTS: setting and achieving goals, teamwork, things that can get pretty heavy from a pulpit. I liked that about helping to launch Sports Illustrated for Kids."

"PEOPLE STARTING OUT IN THEIR CAREERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING INTELLIGENT RISKS. It is also important to have choices, not to foreclose your options early.

"MY PERFECT DAY WOULD START WITH WAKING UP IN A NEW ENGLAND BED AND BREAKFAST on a crisp fall day and hiking up a mountain with the people I love."

"THE HARDEST THING ABOUT PARENTING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A WORKING MOTHER IS NOT BEING ABLE TO BE THERE FOR YOUR KIDS when they might need you. Especially with teenagers, it's harder because the times they need you are more infrequent so the need seems greater."

"MY SON LISTENS TO THE MUSiC I GREW UP WITH: Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, the Beatles; I ask him to turn it up. My daughter listens to music that borders on rap; I tell her to turn it down. When no one else is home, I blast opera."

PERSONAL: Age 47; married to John Neff '73; daughter of Bernard Teichgraeber '42; mother of Brendan, 16, and Abigail, 14 EDUCATION: BA., religion/philosophy; M.B.A., Tuck '79 JOBS: President and CEO, Scientific American Inc. Previously general manager, CMP Media; director of corporate strategic planning, The New York Times Co.; general manager, Sports IllustratedFor Kids