Lisa Friedman Clark (Lisa Steinberg)
College of Engineering
Twitter: @tallordersocks
Tell us about what you're doing with your life
My twin sons and I started a company 5 years ago, Tall Order, in memory of my husband, Andrew Friedman, who perished in the attacks on the WTC on 9/11/01. We make incredibly comfortable socks and accessories for men sizes 9 all the way to 20. We are not called Tall Order because we are tall, although we are (Mike and Dan stand 6’11” and 6’9” respectively.) We received so much help from so many after 9/11 (my boys were only 11 years old) that we always said it would be a “tall order” to pay it back. To date we have donated close to $300,000 to non-profits supporting families going through traumatic loss and other health and human service charities.
Prior to that I was a regional sales manager for IBM then pivoted my career and retired as a Senior Vice President of Fleet Bank (now Bank of America.)
I am also an ovarian cancer survivor and have been off chemotherapy for 37 years!!!
I currently travel throughout the country doing motivational speaking about the fine line we all walk being donors/volunteers to charitable organizations and recipients of their generosity when times get difficult.
I am happily remarried to Bruce Clark who recently retired from an exciting career as a Sports Producer who worked for ABC, CBS and ESPN.
What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?
Gosh, if we are being honest, I’d have to go with Wines and Spirits. I was the volunteer who had to drink a six pack on an empty stomach and have my blood alcohol measured in front of hundreds of peers. Note to self, eat when you drink!!
But in terms of usefulness, I’d probably say Com Arts 301 (I think) Public Speaking. I definitely learned some valuable tips that I’ve used throughout my career and personal life.
What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
I was a freshman and volunteered to serve guests at the Hotel Ezra Cornell banquet. The next day the Dean of the school invited everyone to his home for a celebratory cookout and party, and since the drinking age was 18, there was even booze.
The weather was glorious and I just remember dancing and just having the most amazing day. I especially enjoyed these types of special events because I had limited time as an Engineering student. It gave me a much needed respite from the library!
What advice would you give to a student starting at Cornell this year?
I would really encourage new students to LISTEN more and take less notes (if they do that these days). I was so busy writing everything down, in anticipation of prelims, that I often didn’t absorb the information. It is so much more important, and interesting, to listen and process, and review the material later. I assume lecture notes are now online anyway.
Hooray Lisa - you are truly an inspiration to all of us!