Sandra Lerner
Encyclopedia
Sandy Lerner was a co-founder of Cisco Systems
(with then husband Leonard Bosack
). After leaving Cisco, she was a founder of Urban Decay cosmetics
, and an advocate of animal welfare.
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
.
In 1984, Sandy Lerner cofounded Cisco Systems
with her then boyfriend, and now ex-husband, Len Bosack, while working as Director of Computer Facilities for the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
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 romantic love letters to each other. However, this was a manufactured corporate legend. In fact, both systems (SU-SCORE and SU-GSB) were TOPS-20
systems. The problem was not that the systems were incompatible (obviously, being the same, they were not), but that 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.
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 to show his support for her. The two sold all of their founder's stock and retired from Cisco.
Sandy placed a portion of her stock earnings into a start-up venture capital limited partnership called "& Capital Partners." Among the ventures funded was a new cosmetics company (1995) called Urban Decay
Cosmetics, with the tag line "does pink make you puke?" In February 2000, Moet-Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the French luxury goods conglomerate acquired the firm. It was spun off from LVMH in December 2002.
Lerner is now involved in a number of high-tech and philanthropic activities. She invested money into the restoration of the Jane Austen
family dwelling Chawton House
, making it a center for the study of English women's writing.
She primarily resides at her 800 acres (3.2 km²) estate, Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia that she acquired in 1996. The circa-1912, 42-room Edwardian-style mansion of native fieldstone
has since been restored and is used for a variety of social functions under Sandy's direction.
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 and locally from The Home Store in Middleburg, Virginia
. Sandy also owns the Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville, Virginia
.
Lerner received honorary doctorates from Washington and Jefferson College, Goucher College University of Southampton
in England
and Shenandoah University
.
Lerner was featured in the documentary film Something Ventured which premiered in 2011.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
(with then husband Leonard Bosack
Leonard Bosack
Leonard Bosack along with his wife Sandy Lerner, is a co-founder of Cisco Systems, an American-based multinational corporation that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking and communications technology and services...
). After leaving Cisco, she was a founder of Urban Decay cosmetics
Urban Decay (cosmetics)
Urban Decay is an American cosmetics company founded in 1996 by David Soward, Wende Zomnir, Patricia Holmes, and Sandy Lerner. There was a significant dispute as to whether Sandy Lerner wrongfully ousted her former friend and horse trainer, Patricia Holmes, from a "founders role" in the upstart brand...
, and an advocate of animal welfare.
She received her bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1975 in political science from California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
, a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in econometrics
Econometrics
Econometrics has been defined as "the application of mathematics and statistical methods to economic data" and described as the branch of economics "that aims to give empirical content to economic relations." More precisely, it is "the quantitative analysis of actual economic phenomena based on...
in 1977 from the Claremont Graduate School, and a master's degree in statistics and computer science in 1981 from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
In 1984, Sandy Lerner cofounded Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
with her then boyfriend, and now ex-husband, Len Bosack, while working as Director of Computer Facilities for the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
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 romantic love letters to each other. However, this was a manufactured corporate legend. In fact, both systems (SU-SCORE and SU-GSB) were TOPS-20
TOPS-20
The TOPS-20 operating system by Digital Equipment Corporation was the second proprietary OS for the PDP-10 mainframe computer. TOPS-20 began in 1969 as the TENEX operating system of Bolt, Beranek and Newman...
systems. The problem was not that the systems were incompatible (obviously, being the same, they were not), but that 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.
Lerner and Bosack brought in John Morgridge
John Morgridge
John P. Morgridge is an American businessman who was the chairman of the board of Cisco Systems.- Background :Morgridge is from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and attended Wauwatosa East High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1955; while at Wisconsin he joined Delta Upsilon Fraternity...
to be the third CEO of Cisco in 1988. On August 28, 1990, Lerner was fired; upon hearing the news, Bosack resigned to show his support for her. The two sold all of their founder's stock and retired from Cisco.
Sandy placed a portion of her stock earnings into a start-up venture capital limited partnership called "& Capital Partners." Among the ventures funded was a new cosmetics company (1995) called Urban Decay
Urban decay
Urban decay is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude...
Cosmetics, with the tag line "does pink make you puke?" In February 2000, Moet-Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the French luxury goods conglomerate acquired the firm. It was spun off from LVMH in December 2002.
Lerner is now involved in a number of high-tech and philanthropic activities. She invested money into the restoration of the Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
family dwelling Chawton House
Chawton House
Chawton House is a grade ll* listed Elizabethan manor house in the village of Chawton in Hampshire. It was formerly the home of Jane Austen's brother, Edward Austen Knight, and is now a library and study centre....
, making it a center for the study of English women's writing.
She primarily resides at her 800 acres (3.2 km²) estate, Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia that she acquired in 1996. The circa-1912, 42-room Edwardian-style mansion of native fieldstone
Fieldstone
Fieldstone is a building construction material. Strictly speaking, it is stone collected from the surface of fields where it occurs naturally...
has since been restored and is used for a variety of social functions under Sandy's direction.
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 and locally from The Home Store in Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per...
. Sandy also owns the Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville, Virginia
Upperville, Virginia
Upperville is an unincorporated community in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States, located along U.S. Route 50 fifty miles from downtown Washington, D.C.. Founded in the 1790s along Pantherskin Creek, it was originally named Carrstown by first settler Josephus Carr...
.
Lerner received honorary doctorates from Washington and Jefferson College, Goucher College University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University is a comprehensive private university located in Winchester, Virginia in the United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students across more than ninety programs in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah...
.
Lerner was featured in the documentary film Something Ventured which premiered in 2011.