# Cisco Systems & Urban Decay: Sandy Lerner

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-10-01
- Length: 1h 00m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner

## Summary

Sandy Lerner, co-founder of Cisco Systems, recounts building the company's first routers in her living room with Len Bosack, funding the venture through maxed-out credit cards and personal loans before securing Sequoia Capital investment. She details the cultural clash with professional management, her subsequent firing by CEO John Morgridge, and her decision to sell her stake to maintain ethical integrity. Lerner then describes founding Urban Decay, a cosmetics brand focused on edgy colors and cruelty-free ingredients, and her current work managing a sustainable 800-acre farm in Virginia.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=0) Introduction: Sandy Lerner and the origins of Cisco
- [4:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=248) Lerner's early life and transition into computer science at Stanford
- [14:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=876) Building the first Stanford University Network and routers
- [20:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=1210) Funding Cisco with credit cards and bootstrapping production
- [29:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=1782) Securing Sequoia Capital and the influx of professional management
- [37:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=2254) Firing by CEO John Morgridge and walking out with Len Bosack
- [45:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=2701) Founding Urban Decay and challenging the cosmetics industry norms
- [50:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-10-01-cisco-systems-urban-decay-sandy-lerner#t=3056) Establishing a sustainable 800-acre farm in Virginia

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Cisco Systems (company)
- Urban Decay (company)
- Stanford University (company)
- Sequoia Capital (company)
- Don Valentine (other)
- John Morgridge (other)
- Len Bosack (other)
- PetNet (product)
- IcePlate (product)
- Core Performance (company)

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- [The Rise and Fall of DEC](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-06-14-the-rise-and-fall-of-dec) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Theranos, Silicon Valley, and the March Madness of Tech Fraud](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-09-21-theranos-silicon-valley-and-the-march-madness-of-tech-fraud) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Stan Bentley | Starting an Engineering Business, Day Care, & Powdercoating](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating) (Being an Engineer)
- [Tune in for Season 3 of Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-08-19-tune-in-for-season-3-of-moores-lobby) (Moore's Lobby)

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