How the Fisher Family Continues the Legacy of Shoe Making Through a New Generation
Marc Fisher Footwear is a true family affair, built on the commitment and expertise of multiple generations.
Sam Fisher, for instance, was a founding member of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, and his son Jerome Fisher famously co-founded the Nine West company and transformed the industry with help from his own son Marc.
Today, Marc continues to rapidly expand his own namesake business, alongside his children Adam, Amanda and Lauren Fisher. Amanda serves as an executive vice president of design; Adam is an EVP of product development and Lauren is a director of product development.
For Amanda — who entered the family business after spending years in the financial industry — working with her dad was never part of a grand plan.
Watch on FN
“When I joined the company, I personally didn’t know how long I would last here and if I would like it. That was in 2010, so now I’ve been here for 15 years. I love working for the family business. We work hard and we want to further everything that our father has worked his whole life at building and creating.”
Amanda noted that people often ask her if it’s difficult navigating a family business.
“To be honest, it’s become pretty easy to work together,” she said with a smile. “We all have our own thing, and we’re not on top of each other all the time. We also have a good work-life balance, and that’s something our dad has always focused on. It’s important to be with our own families as well.”
Lauren’s path to the company was a bit more straight forward, starting with studying at Parsons School of Design.
“Design and craftsmanship have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Lauren noted. “Growing up, I always envisioned working alongside my dad, learning from his expertise and passion. Being surrounded by such creative and talented individuals continues to inspire me every day. Shoes truly run in our blood, and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of something so deeply ingrained in who we are.”
The love of product and the process of running a footwear business excites all three kids, but especially Adam. He jumped right into the product side of the company after graduation. In fact, Marc Fisher Footwear has been the only job in his professional career.
“It’s not only about the design,” Adam said. “It’s also about the fit, the comfort and everything else that goes into what makes a shoe sell that excites me. I’m always thinking about what we can do better — that’s my focus. My real goal in my career has always been to be the best at product that I can be.”
Lauren has a similar approach to design. “With our diverse footwear portfolio and vast range of offerings, I focus on the balance between form and function,” she said. “It’s about understanding the needs of real women, considering materials, construction and silhouettes that move with them and creating pieces that feel just as good as they look.”
As for where the Fishers get their drive, each credited their parents for setting the bar high when they were young.
“Our parents ingrained a strong work ethic in us from an early age, making it a natural part of our daily lives. I try to live up to the standards that my dad sets for us,” said Lauren. “I’ve watched him work so hard my whole life, the level of commitment and dedication he puts into his work is something I have immense respect for. He has been an amazing role model.”
But Adam admitted that just because they enjoy working for their dad, it’s not always a walk in the park.
“He expects a lot from us,” he said. “But we also expect a lot from ourselves. Even growing up, I would talk to my grandfather daily. He would call me and say, ‘Adam, how’s the work? What are you doing?’ And it’s kind of the same way now [with] our dad. He worked for his dad, and those same values were instilled in him. It’s just constant in the family business, you never really get removed from it. But ultimately, it is great to be able to see your family every day in the office.”
As for what comes next, the siblings all relish their father’s relentless focus on growth.
“His reputation will continue to be his legacy and the legacy of our company. And as we advance, we all want to continue to do better,” Amanda said. “Even though none of us know what tomorrow will bring, we all just continue to work really hard to keep things moving forward.”
Lauren added, “My brother, sister and I are the fourth generation in the shoe business, which is pretty incredible when you think about it. We take a lot of pride in carrying our family’s name forward — it’s in our blood. This brand is built on decades of passion and craftsmanship, and while we’re always looking ahead, we never lose sight of the legacy that got us here.”
