BETSY ATKINS

INTERVIEW WITH BETSY ATKINS

In the hushed Cafe at New York's elegant Hotel Pierre, dressed to the nines in a smartly tailored, robin's egg blue Channel suit, Betsy Atkins could easily be mistaken for a lady who lunches. But no, she is a lady who launches. Atkins is what is known in business circles as an "angel," someone who provides seed money to small companies before the big venture capitalists deign to come in. She is also co-founder of Ascend Communications Corp., a maker of critical communications devices acquired by Lucent Technologies in early 1999. She has served on the boards of such companies as Olympic Steel, Datacore Software, and Polycom, Inc. She is particularly interested in new Internet startups. Based in Coral Gables, Florida, her work and travel schedule is demanding, but she is careful to make time for herself. Recently, she visited a spa for the first time, LaBelle in Palo Alto California. Here are her thoughts on that experience and some insights on how to take care of yourself in today's fast-pace world.

HSM: What did you expect of a spa? How did the experience play out? And what treatments did you elect to have?

BA: What I expected was an environment that was very pleasant and relaxing. What I found was a soothing environment, with a fireplace, soft music, and candlelight, which was very conducive to unwinding. I had a manicure and pedicure and a massage. They had a chair with built-in massage located in a private room with focal point lighting on the manicure/pedicure area. The massage went all the way up and down your back. Both the manicure and pedicure were excellent. Best of all, they were done simultaneously with the massage. It's important for me to be in a place where they can make it a pleasant experience, but time-efficient. The room was done in very soothing shades of taupe. There were aromatic candles burning and lovely New Age music playing in the background. The therapist was very enthusiastic, responsive, and did a great job. I will look for a spa at home, and I'll look for a spa in Manhattan as well, because I spend so much time here.

HSM: Eating can be a problem when you travel so much. What are some guidelines you follow?

BA: I try to be very careful with diet and I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and proteins . I try to avoid sugars and carbohydrates. Actually, I have a theory: if you avoid eating things that are white--potato, rice, bread-- you can do well on your diet. I go for green and orange. I drink an awful lot of water. I'm a big believer in it. It makes a huge difference in how I feel. I find whenever I feel a headache coming on, if I really hydrate myself, I feel a lot better. I drink juice, and try not to consume too much caffeine. I wish more places served green tea; I'd drink it more if I could find it. And, I take my vitamins.

HSM: Exercise, too, can be a problem in the face of a heavy travel schedule. What do you do?

BA: If I do some exercise, I always feel better. For example, taking a vigorous walk instead of a taxi in New York. In Miami, I regularly bike, swim, and practice yoga. I take classes. You feel better because you're stretched out and relaxed. And these things do correlate. There are studies that state that if you meditate, you can actually lower your cholesterol and your heart health is improved.

HSM: Is there any skin care or beauty regimen that you've made part of your life?

BA: I really don't have much of a beauty routine. I could probably use some coaching in that department. I put a little moisturizer on my face, and, living in Florida, a little sun block-- that's about it.

HSM: How do achieve peace of mind given all the demands business places on you?

BA: I love being by the water, and Florida provides that. I like being outdoors. There are some beautiful tropical gardens to walk in. I like Central Park when I'm in New York. I 'm a huge lover of flowers and when I don't garden I love to go to the market and buy them. The most relaxing place that I can think of is the state of Maine. The coast is fabulous. The people there are sincere and real. I think it's physically beautiful up north and all along the coast. There are lovely trails and good hikes. To me it's the simple things that achieve peace of mind: listening to music, going to the markets and picking your fruits and vegetables, cooking, dancing, and relaxing with friends. I make it a point to do all these things.

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