Doris Fisher

Early Life and Education

Doris Lee Feigenbaum was born on August 23, 1931, in San Francisco, California. Her father, B. Joseph Feigenbaum, was a Harvard-educated attorney and a California state legislator, and her mother, Dorothy (Bamberger) Feigenbaum, was a New York native. She graduated from Stanford University in 1953 with a degree in Economics.

Rise to Success

Doris Fisher co-founded Gap Inc. with her husband, Donald Fisher, in 1969. The initial inspiration came from their difficulty finding well-fitting jeans. They opened the first Gap store in San Francisco, selling Levi's jeans and records. The company expanded rapidly, growing to 25 stores within three years. Fisher served as the company's merchandiser until 2003 and was on the board until 2009.

Key Business Strategies

Fisher's contributions to Gap's success included her merchandising expertise, ensuring stock levels met consumer demand and driving profitability. She also navigated supply chain challenges, particularly outsourcing during the 1990s, and established a vendor code of conduct to address labor concerns. After Donald Fisher's death in 2009, Doris Fisher oversaw the company's sustained ownership of a significant portion of Gap Inc. shares.

Philanthropy

Doris Fisher co-founded the KIPP Foundation in 2000, supporting charter schools. The Fishers donated over $70 million to build and sustain the KIPP network. The Doris & Donald Fisher Fund also supported the arts and community initiatives. The family's philanthropic efforts have focused on education reform, particularly for underserved communities.