She co-founded Cisco Systems, and used the money from its sale to pursue interests in animal welfare and women's writing.
Lerner dedicates her time to Chawton House Library and the animal welfare community worldwide.
[3] 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.
[4][5] Lerner and Bosack worked with Stanford students and faculty on a project to better connect all of the school's computer systems.
"[12][13] In February 2000, Moet-Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the French luxury goods conglomerate, acquired the firm.
[26] In November 2014, Lerner was presented with the Pioneer Award for her work in the technology field by Women's Entrepreneurship Day.
[27] In 2015, Lerner was presented with an honorary OBE by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, for her contributions to UK culture.
[28] In September 2023, Lerner penned the foreword to the book Founder vs Investor: The Honest Truth About Venture Capital From Startup To IPO.