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{{short description|American entrepreneur and animal rights activist}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Sandy Lerner
| name = Sandy Lerner
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1955}}
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| birth_place = [[California]], U.S.
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==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
She grew up on a farm in [[northern California]].<ref name=Nicholls/> She received her [[bachelor's degree]] in 1975 in political science from [[California State University, Chico]], a [[master's degree]] in [[econometrics]] in 1977 from the [[Claremont Graduate School]], and a master's degree in statistics and computer science in 1981 from [[Stanford University]].
Lerner is a [[northern California]] native.<ref name="Nicholls" /> She received her [[bachelor's degree]] in 1975 in international relations from [[California State University, Chico]], a [[master's degree]] in [[econometrics]] in 1977 from the [[Claremont Graduate School]], and a master's degree in statistics and computer science in 1981 from [[Stanford University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.csuchico.edu/news/archived-news/2012-spring/5-8-12-honorary-doctorates-to-be-awarded-to-sandy-lerner-and-ed-rollins.shtml|title=Honorary Doctorates To Be Awarded to Cisco Systems Co-founder Sandy Lerner and Political Analyst and Campaign Manager Ed Rollins - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico|website=www.csuchico.edu|date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>


==Cisco==
==Cisco==
In 1984, while working as Director of Computer Facilities for the [[Stanford University Graduate School of Business]], Lerner co-founded [[Cisco Systems]] with her then partner (and now ex-husband) [[Len Bosack]]. It is widely reported that Lerner and Bosack designed the first router so that they could connect the incompatible computer systems of the Stanford offices they were working in so that they could send letters to each other. However, this is an untrue legend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2006/anniversary/032706-routerman.html?t5 |title=Router man |publisher=Networkworld.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-02}}</ref><ref name=pdp10>{{cite news |title=A start-up's true tale |author=Pete Carey |url=http://pdp10.nocrew.org/docs/cisco.html |work=[[Mercury News]] |date=2001-01-12 }}</ref> In fact, both systems (SU-SCORE and SU-GSB) were [[TOPS-20]] systems. The systems were the same and therefore obviously not incompatible, but the SU-GSB system was not on any network. It has also been noted that the original router was designed and created by a group of people at Stanford, both students and faculty, rather than Lerner and Bosack alone.<ref name=pdp10/>
In 1984, while working as director of computer facilities for the [[Stanford University Graduate School of Business]], Lerner co-founded [[Cisco Systems]] with her then-partner and now-former husband [[Len Bosack]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2006/anniversary/032706-routerman.html?t5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405020620/http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2006/anniversary/032706-routerman.html?t5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2006 |title=Router man |publisher=Networkworld.com |date= March 27, 2006|accessdate=2012-11-02}}</ref><ref name=pdp10>{{cite news |title=A start-up's true tale |author=Pete Carey |url=http://pdp10.nocrew.org/docs/cisco.html |work=[[Mercury News]] |date=2001-01-12 }}</ref> Lerner and Bosack worked with Stanford students and faculty on a project to better connect all of the school's computer systems.<ref name=pdp10/> They later adapted software used at Stanford into what would become the foundation for [[Cisco IOS]].<ref name="pdp10" />


Lerner told the story of Cisco's startup on the podcast [[How I Built This]] in which Cisco's early days involved building routers in the living room, financing the business using credit cards. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the work and that despite [[communication protocols]] being [[public domain]], developed largely from collaborative work at Stanford, Cisco was still able to produce products people wanted to buy.<ref>Guy Raz - How I Made This [https://www.npr.org/2018/09/28/652663380/cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner "Cisco Systems & Urban Decay: Sandy Lerner"]. ''[[NPR]]''. Accessed October 15, 2018</ref>
⚫
Lerner and Bosack brought in [[John Morgridge]] to be the third CEO of Cisco in 1988. On August 28, 1990, Lerner was fired; upon hearing the news, Bosack resigned in solidarity. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-ciscos-founders-were-ousted-2014-12 |title=Cisco Just Turned 30: This Is The Dramatic Story Of How The Founders Were Ousted |publisher=uk.businessinsider.com |author=Julie Bort |date= |accessdate=2014-12-12 }} </ref> The two sold all of their stock for $170 million<ref name=Nicholls>{{cite news |last=Nicholls|first=Walter |title=Two Starts and a Stir |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062100655_pf.html |work=[[Washington Post]] |date=22 June 2005|accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref> and retired from Cisco. Lerner and Bosask divorced in the early 1990s.

⚫
Lerner and Bosack brought in [[John Morgridge]] to be the second CEO of Cisco in 1988. On August 28, 1990, Lerner was fired; upon hearing the news, Bosack resigned in solidarity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-ciscos-founders-were-ousted-2014-12 |title=Cisco Just Turned 30: This Is The Dramatic Story Of How The Founders Were Ousted |publisher=uk.businessinsider.com |author=Julie Bort |date= |accessdate=2014-12-12 }}</ref> The two sold all of their stock for $170 million<ref name=Nicholls>{{cite news |last=Nicholls|first=Walter |title=Two Starts and a Stir |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062100655_pf.html |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=22 June 2005|accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref> and retired from Cisco. Lerner and Bosack divorced in the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2016/05/25/business-couple-breakups-tory-burch-sandy-lerner-dolce-gabbana-burt-shavitz/|title=Splitting Headaches: When Lovers-Turned-Cofounders Break Up|last=Savchuk|first=Katia|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>


==Other business projects==
==Other business projects==
In 1996, Lerner purchased Ayrshire Farm, a {{convert|600|acre|km2|adj=on}} estate in [[Upperville, Virginia|Upperville]] Virginia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/cisco-co-founder-says-shes-ready-to-say-farewell-to-the-farm/2013/06/13/660bcbb8-cd53-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html|title=Cisco co-founder says she's ready to say farewell to the farm|last=Lerner|first=Michele|date=14 June 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=}}</ref> The circa-1912, 42-room [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian mansion]] of native [[fieldstone]] has since been restored and was used for a variety of social functions under Lerner's direction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/garden/23sandy.html|title=All That Glitters Is Not Silicon|author=Bellafante, G.|date=June 23, 2005|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Ayrshire Farm's mission has been to farm sustainably and profitably, promoting the benefits of locally produced, humanely-raised meats and organic produce to the consumer, the community, and children through education, outreach and example. The farm was the first in Virginia to meet both Certified Humane and Certified Organic standards.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
Lerner placed a portion of her stock earnings into a start-up [[venture capital]] [[limited partnership]] called "& Capital Partners." One of the companies it funded was [[Urban Decay (cosmetics)|Urban Decay]] Cosmetics, with the tag line "does pink make you puke?"<ref>{{cite news |title=Does pink make you puke? |url=https://www.forbes.com/archive/forbes/1997/0825/6004058a.html;jsessionid=x2WoMGNVwn-StErE?token=MyBBcHIgMjAwNiAwNTo0MjoyMCArMDAwMA%3D%3D |work=[[Forbes]] |date=August 25, 1997 }}</ref> <ref>[http://www.urbandecay.com/about.cfm "Urban Decay history"]</ref> In February 2000, [[Moet-Hennessy]] [[Louis Vuitton]] ([[LVMH]]), the French [[luxury goods]] conglomerate, acquired the firm. It was [[Corporate spin-off|spun off]] from LVMH in December 2002.


⚫
Lerner placed a portion of her stock earnings into a start-up [[venture capital]] [[limited partnership]] called "& Capital Partners."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandy Lerner Biography {{!}} Booking Info for Speaking Engagements |url=https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Sandy+Lerner/389976 |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.allamericanspeakers.com}}</ref> One of the companies it funded was [[Urban Decay (cosmetics)|Urban Decay]] Cosmetics, with the tag line "does pink make you puke?"<ref>{{cite news |title=Does pink make you puke? |url=https://www.forbes.com/archive/forbes/1997/0825/6004058a.html;jsessionid=x2WoMGNVwn-StErE?token=MyBBcHIgMjAwNiAwNTo0MjoyMCArMDAwMA%3D%3D |work=[[Forbes]] |date=August 25, 1997 }}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>[http://www.urbandecay.com/about.cfm "Urban Decay history"]</ref> In February 2000, [[Moet-Hennessy]] [[Louis Vuitton]] ([[LVMH]]), the French [[luxury goods]] conglomerate, acquired the firm.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/26/business/world-business-briefing-europe-urban-decay-for-lvmh.html|title=World Business Briefing: Europe; Urban Decay for Lvmh|last=News|first=Bridge|date=2000-02-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It was [[Corporate spin-off|spun off]] from LVMH in December 2002. <ref>{{Cite web |title=LVMH 20-F |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/824046/000095010303001457/jun0303_20f.htm |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>
She started moving to Virginia in 1995. She primarily resides at her {{convert|800|acre|km2|sing=on}} estate, Ayrshire Farm in [[Upperville, Virginia|Upperville]], that she acquired in 1996. The circa-1912, 42-room [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian mansion]] of native [[fieldstone]] has since been restored and is used for a variety of social functions under Lerner's direction.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bellafante, G. |date=June 23, 2005 |title=All That Glitters Is Not Silicon |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/garden/23sandy.html}}</ref> Ayrshire Farm's mission is to farm sustainably and profitably, promoting the benefits of locally produced, humanely-raised meats and organic produce to the consumer, the community, and children through education, outreach and example. The farm sells its products online<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.ayrshirefarm.com/ |title=Ayrshire Farm |publisher=Store.ayrshirefarm.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-02 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110134654/http://store.ayrshirefarm.com/ |archivedate=November 10, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and locally from Gentle Harvest in Marshall, VA.


Lerner also owns Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville, Virginia and Gentle Harvest in Marshall, Virginia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/cisco-co-founder-sandy-lerners-next-big-idea-redefining-road-food/2016/10/28/e8772d48-9b01-11e6-9980-50913d68eacb_story.html|title=Cisco co-founder Sandy Lerner's next big idea: Redefining road food|last=Pipkin|first=Whitney|date=30 October 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=}}</ref>
Lerner also owns the Hunter's Head Tavern<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huntersheadtavern.com/HuntersHead/HHHome.html |title=HHHome |publisher=Huntersheadtavern.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-02}}</ref> in Upperville, Virginia.


==Artistic projects and philanthropy==
==Artistic projects and philanthropy==
⚫
In 1992, through the foundation she shares with Leonard Bosack, Lerner invested money into the restoration of the [[Chawton House]], which was once owned by [[Jane Austen]]'s brother, [[Edward Austen Knight]]. In 2003, it opened as the Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing, 1600–1830. In 2016, Lerner resigned from the board of trustees and withdrew the financial support of her foundation.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Flood|first1=Alison|title=Jane Austen's Great House launches urgent appeal to stay open|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/20/jane-austen-chawton-great-house-appeal|accessdate=22 March 2018|work=the Guardian|date=20 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>
Lerner early showed her predilection for [[English architecture]] by building a home in [[Los Altos, California]] for which she imported a 2 1/2 story glass garden tower and created an [[English landscape garden|English rose garden]]. The house still stands.


⚫
In November 2011, Lerner published a sequel to [[Jane Austen]]'s ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' titled ''Second Impressions'' using the pen name of Ava Farmer (for "a Virginia farmer").<ref>Julian Guthrie, [http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Cisco-founder-pens-sequel-to-Pride-and-Prejudice-3593640.php "Cisco founder pens sequel to 'Pride and Prejudice'"], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', May 30, 2012 . Retrieved January 26, 2013.</ref> In August 2017, Lerner released ''Caticons'', a book of art imitating cats.<ref>Caticons website - [https://www.caticons.info/ 2017 President's Award Winner]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/garchik/article/Caticon-a-show-of-art-about-cats-at-SFO-13105906.php|title='Caticon,' a show of art about cats at SFO - SFChronicle.com|date=2018-07-26|website=www.sfchronicle.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-03}}</ref> Cat news website, ''[[The Purrington Post]]'' said that the book was a "Must have" for cat lovers.<ref>''Catworld'', December 2017, Issue 477 - [https://issuu.com/ljhogmjbhu/docs/21dfvdf Page 27 Caitcons]</ref>
⚫
For many years Lerner directed her philanthropy towards [[Chawton House]] and its specialist library and study centre. In 1992, through the foundation she shares with Leonard Bosack, she invested money into the restoration of this Hampshire [[manor house]] once owned by [[Jane Austen]]'s brother, [[Edward Austen Knight]]. In 2003 it opened as the Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing, 1600-1830. The [[Chawton House Library]] has a collection of over 9,000 books, mainly related to the [[literary genre]] of [[Women's writing (literary category)|women's writing]], and original [[manuscript]]s. The Library works in partnership with the [[University of Southampton]], and provides an important resource for the university's [[Master of Arts|MA]] in 18th Century Study.<ref>[http://www.chawtonhouse.org/education/southampton.html Chawton House Website Southampton Section]</ref> In 2016 Lerner resigned from the board of trustees and withdrew the financial support of her foundation.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Flood|first1=Alison|title=Jane Austen's Great House launches urgent appeal to stay open|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/20/jane-austen-chawton-great-house-appeal|accessdate=22 March 2018|work=the Guardian|date=20 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>

⚫
In November 2011, Lerner published a sequel to [[Jane Austen]]'s ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' titled ''Second Impressions'' using the pen name of Ava Farmer (for "a Virginia farmer"); she plans to make it into a movie.<ref>Julian Guthrie, [http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Cisco-founder-pens-sequel-to-Pride-and-Prejudice-3593640.php "Cisco founder pens sequel to 'Pride and Prejudice'"], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', May 30, 2012 . Retrieved January 26, 2013.</ref> In August 2017, Lerner released ''Caticons'' <ref>https://www.caticons.info/</ref>, a book of art imitating cats.


==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
Lerner was awarded an honorary degree in 2005 from [[Southampton University]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Graduation 2005 - the biggest ever {{!}} University of Southampton|url=https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2005/07/graduation-2005-the-biggest-ever.page|website=www.southampton.ac.uk|accessdate=22 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> and a Doctor of Sciences in 2012 from [[California State University, Chico]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Doctorates To Be Awarded to Cisco Systems Co-founder Sandy Lerner and Political Analyst and Campaign Manager Ed Rollins - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico|url=http://www.csuchico.edu/news/archived-news/2012-spring/5-8-12-honorary-doctorates-to-be-awarded-to-sandy-lerner-and-ed-rollins.shtml|website=www.csuchico.edu|accessdate=22 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>.
Lerner was awarded an honorary degree in 2005 from [[Southampton University]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Graduation 2005 - the biggest ever {{!}} University of Southampton|url=https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2005/07/graduation-2005-the-biggest-ever.page|website=www.southampton.ac.uk|accessdate=22 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> and a Doctor of Sciences in 2012 from [[California State University, Chico]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Doctorates To Be Awarded to Cisco Systems Co-founder Sandy Lerner and Political Analyst and Campaign Manager Ed Rollins - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico|url=http://www.csuchico.edu/news/archived-news/2012-spring/5-8-12-honorary-doctorates-to-be-awarded-to-sandy-lerner-and-ed-rollins.shtml|website=www.csuchico.edu|date=August 28, 2015 |accessdate=22 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>


In 2009, the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] Computer Society honored Sandra Lerner and Leonard Bosack with its Computer Entrepreneur Award "for founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Computer Society Connection|journal=Computer Society Digital Library|date=March 2010|volume=43|issue=03|page=77-80|url=https://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/co/2010/03/mco2010030077.html|accessdate=22 March 2018}}</ref> In 2014 Lerner was presented with the Technology [[Women’s Entrepreneurship Day]] Pioneer award at the United Nations.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Pioneer Awards|url=http://womenseday.org/2014-pioneer-awards/|website=womenseday.org|accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref>
In 2009, the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] Computer Society honored Sandra Lerner and Leonard Bosack with its Computer Entrepreneur Award "for founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Computer Society Connection|journal=Computer Society Digital Library|date=March 2010|volume=43|issue=3|pages=77–80|url=https://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/co/2010/03/mco2010030077.html|accessdate=22 March 2018}}</ref>


In 1998, Lerner was featured in part 2 of the [[PBS]] documentary ''[[Nerds 2.0.1]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/22/tv/signoff-for-these-nerds-it-s-beans-to-billions.html|title=SIGNOFF; For These Nerds, It's Beans to Billions|last=SISARIO|first=BEN|date=22 November 1998|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=}}</ref> Lerner was also featured in the documentary film ''[[Something Ventured (film)|Something Ventured]]'' (2011).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/business/media/08film.html|title='Something Ventured,' a Love Story About Capitalism|last=Cieply|first=Michael|date=2011-03-07|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Lerner was featured in the documentary film ''[[Something Ventured (film)|Something Ventured]]'' (2011). She was also featured in part 2 of the [[PBS]] documentary ''[[Nerds 2.0.1]]''.


In November 2014, Lerner was presented with the distinguished [[Women's Entrepreneurship Day#List of Pioneer Award Winners| Pioneer Award]] for her work in the Technology field by [[Women's Entrepreneurship Day]] and the [[United Nations]]. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.womenseday.org/community/wed-annual-pioneer-awards/2014-wed-pioneer-awards/|title=Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2014 Winners |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |author=Wendy Diamond |publisher=WED}}</ref>
In November 2014, Lerner was presented with the [[Women's Entrepreneurship Day#List of Pioneer Award Winners|Pioneer Award]] for her work in the technology field by [[Women's Entrepreneurship Day]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.womenseday.org/community/wed-annual-pioneer-awards/2014-wed-pioneer-awards/|title=Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2014 Winners |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |author=Wendy Diamond |publisher=WED}}</ref>


In 2015, Lerner was presented with an honorary OBE by the [[Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire]], Nigel Atkinson, for her contributions to UK culture. She received special permission to hold the ceremony at Chawton House.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr Sandy Lerner's OBE: A Special Day in Pictures ~ Chawton House|url=https://chawtonhouse.org/2015/05/sandy-lerners-obe-a-special-day-in-pictures/|website=Chawton House|accessdate=22 March 2018|date=22 May 2015}}</ref>
In 2015, Lerner was presented with an honorary OBE by the [[Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire]], Nigel Atkinson, for her contributions to UK culture. The ceremony was held at the Chawton House.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr Sandy Lerner's OBE: A Special Day in Pictures ~ Chawton House|url=https://chawtonhouse.org/2015/05/sandy-lerners-obe-a-special-day-in-pictures/|website=Chawton House|accessdate=22 March 2018|date=22 May 2015}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Portal|Biography}}
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Latest revision as of 20:01, 26 April 2024

Sandy Lerner
Born1955 (age 68–69)
California, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia State University, Chico
Claremont Graduate School
Stanford University
Known forCo-Founder of Cisco Systems
Co-Founder of Urban Decay
SpouseLeonard Bosack (divorced)

Sandy Lerner (born 1955) is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She co-founded Cisco Systems, and used the money from its sale to pursue interests in animal welfare and women's writing. One of her main projects, Chawton House, is in England, but most of her work remains in the United States.

Early life and education[edit]

Lerner is a northern California native.[1] She received her bachelor's degree in 1975 in international relations from California State University, Chico, a master's degree in econometrics in 1977 from the Claremont Graduate School, and a master's degree in statistics and computer science in 1981 from Stanford University.[2]

Cisco[edit]

In 1984, while working as director of computer facilities for the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Lerner co-founded Cisco Systems with her then-partner and now-former husband Len Bosack.[3][4] Lerner and Bosack worked with Stanford students and faculty on a project to better connect all of the school's computer systems.[4] They later adapted software used at Stanford into what would become the foundation for Cisco IOS.[4]

Lerner told the story of Cisco's startup on the podcast How I Built This in which Cisco's early days involved building routers in the living room, financing the business using credit cards. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the work and that despite communication protocols being public domain, developed largely from collaborative work at Stanford, Cisco was still able to produce products people wanted to buy.[5]

Lerner and Bosack brought in John Morgridge to be the second CEO of Cisco in 1988. On August 28, 1990, Lerner was fired; upon hearing the news, Bosack resigned in solidarity.[6] The two sold all of their stock for $170 million[1] and retired from Cisco. Lerner and Bosack divorced in the early 1990s.[7]

Other business projects[edit]

In 1996, Lerner purchased Ayrshire Farm, a 600-acre (2.4 km2) estate in Upperville Virginia.[8] The circa-1912, 42-room Edwardian mansion of native fieldstone has since been restored and was used for a variety of social functions under Lerner's direction.[9] Ayrshire Farm's mission has been to farm sustainably and profitably, promoting the benefits of locally produced, humanely-raised meats and organic produce to the consumer, the community, and children through education, outreach and example. The farm was the first in Virginia to meet both Certified Humane and Certified Organic standards.[8]

Lerner placed a portion of her stock earnings into a start-up venture capital limited partnership called "& Capital Partners."[10] One of the companies it funded was Urban Decay Cosmetics, with the tag line "does pink make you puke?"[11][12] In February 2000, Moet-Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the French luxury goods conglomerate, acquired the firm.[13] It was spun off from LVMH in December 2002. [14]

Lerner also owns Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville, Virginia and Gentle Harvest in Marshall, Virginia.[15]

Artistic projects and philanthropy[edit]

In 1992, through the foundation she shares with Leonard Bosack, Lerner invested money into the restoration of the Chawton House, which was once owned by Jane Austen's brother, Edward Austen Knight. In 2003, it opened as the Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing, 1600–1830. In 2016, Lerner resigned from the board of trustees and withdrew the financial support of her foundation.[16]

In November 2011, Lerner published a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice titled Second Impressions using the pen name of Ava Farmer (for "a Virginia farmer").[17] In August 2017, Lerner released Caticons, a book of art imitating cats.[18][19] Cat news website, The Purrington Post said that the book was a "Must have" for cat lovers.[20]

Awards and recognition[edit]

Lerner was awarded an honorary degree in 2005 from Southampton University[21] and a Doctor of Sciences in 2012 from California State University, Chico.[22]

In 2009, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society honored Sandra Lerner and Leonard Bosack with its Computer Entrepreneur Award "for founding Cisco Systems and pioneering and advancing the commercialization of routing technology and the profound changes this technology enabled in the computer industry."[23]

In 1998, Lerner was featured in part 2 of the PBS documentary Nerds 2.0.1.[24] Lerner was also featured in the documentary film Something Ventured (2011).[25]

In November 2014, Lerner was presented with the Pioneer Award for her work in the technology field by Women's Entrepreneurship Day.[26]

In 2015, Lerner was presented with an honorary OBE by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, for her contributions to UK culture. The ceremony was held at the Chawton House.[27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Nicholls, Walter (June 22, 2005). "Two Starts and a Stir". Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  2. ^ "Honorary Doctorates To Be Awarded to Cisco Systems Co-founder Sandy Lerner and Political Analyst and Campaign Manager Ed Rollins - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico". www.csuchico.edu. August 28, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  3. ^ "Router man". Networkworld.com. March 27, 2006. Archived from the original on April 5, 2006. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Pete Carey (January 12, 2001). "A start-up's true tale". Mercury News.
  5. ^ Guy Raz - How I Made This "Cisco Systems & Urban Decay: Sandy Lerner". NPR. Accessed October 15, 2018
  6. ^ Julie Bort. "Cisco Just Turned 30: This Is The Dramatic Story Of How The Founders Were Ousted". uk.businessinsider.com. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  7. ^ Savchuk, Katia. "Splitting Headaches: When Lovers-Turned-Cofounders Break Up". Forbes. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Lerner, Michele (June 14, 2013). "Cisco co-founder says she's ready to say farewell to the farm". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ Bellafante, G. (June 23, 2005). "All That Glitters Is Not Silicon". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Sandy Lerner Biography | Booking Info for Speaking Engagements". www.allamericanspeakers.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Does pink make you puke?". Forbes. August 25, 1997.[dead link]
  12. ^ "Urban Decay history"
  13. ^ News, Bridge (February 26, 2000). "World Business Briefing: Europe; Urban Decay for Lvmh". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 10, 2018. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "LVMH 20-F". www.sec.gov. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  15. ^ Pipkin, Whitney (October 30, 2016). "Cisco co-founder Sandy Lerner's next big idea: Redefining road food". The Washington Post.
  16. ^ Flood, Alison (July 20, 2017). "Jane Austen's Great House launches urgent appeal to stay open". the Guardian. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  17. ^ Julian Guthrie, "Cisco founder pens sequel to 'Pride and Prejudice'", San Francisco Chronicle, May 30, 2012 . Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  18. ^ Caticons website - 2017 President's Award Winner
  19. ^ "'Caticon,' a show of art about cats at SFO - SFChronicle.com". www.sfchronicle.com. July 26, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  20. ^ Catworld, December 2017, Issue 477 - Page 27 Caitcons
  21. ^ "Graduation 2005 - the biggest ever | University of Southampton". www.southampton.ac.uk. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  22. ^ "Honorary Doctorates To Be Awarded to Cisco Systems Co-founder Sandy Lerner and Political Analyst and Campaign Manager Ed Rollins - CSU, Chico News - CSU, Chico". www.csuchico.edu. August 28, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  23. ^ "Computer Society Connection". Computer Society Digital Library. 43 (3): 77–80. March 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  24. ^ SISARIO, BEN (November 22, 1998). "SIGNOFF; For These Nerds, It's Beans to Billions". The New York Times.
  25. ^ Cieply, Michael (March 7, 2011). "'Something Ventured,' a Love Story About Capitalism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  26. ^ Wendy Diamond. "Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2014 Winners". WED. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  27. ^ "Dr Sandy Lerner's OBE: A Special Day in Pictures ~ Chawton House". Chawton House. May 22, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

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