Shakespeare's Sister Company

Sister of the Month: Debbie Lieberman

By Kris Lundberg on August 11th, 2010

What’s in a name? Tell us the story behind your first and surname.
My parents both loved the name Deborah which is how I got my first name. I actually have two middle names…named after my great grandparents. Maxine for my great grandfather, Max, and Rose for my great grandmother, Rose. I have four names…one first, two middle and one surname…which makes it fun for signing legal documents. Regarding my surname, Lieberman is German. My father’s father comes from an area in Germany close to Munich. Lieberman in German means loverman.

How cool is that?
It’s awesome!

Describe a fond memory growing up of your parents.
From age three to seven, the family moved to Mexico, so my dad could attend med school. I learned the language at a very young age just from living there and became bilingual. One of my fondest memories is of the entire family camping on the beach in Mexico.

What is your passion?
Baking. Food, in general, but with a concentration in sweetness.

When did you realize how important your passion is to you and why, as a whole, it is so important to you?
Taking my first batch of chocolate chip cookies, that I had made with my mom, to a friend’s birthday party and seeing their expressions. I live for that. The moment of yum. My great grandparents immigrated from Russia to the United States in the late 1800s and started their own bakery in Norfolk, Virginia. Baking gives me the pleasure, to give other people pleasure.

What’s your opinion on the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?
I love that movie! It’s funny because once they killed him (sorry, spoiler alert) I could smell the cooked marshmallows the way it was shot. Awesome. Also, Bill Murray makes it even better. For the record, my favorite baked good is the chocolate chip cookie. I can’t reveal the ingredients, as they are a secret. I will say they are never made the same way twice.

If you could change the world with this passion, what would you do?
I would love to impart the love of baking to others. Kids, adults, etc.

Do you feel in today’s society that modern women are able to voice their opinion?
It depends on what part of society. Working in a male-dominated business in finance, I often feel hesitant expressing my opinion. I think we’re wired differently, men and women. Very often what we have to say is not taken seriously.

Who is your role model and why?
My mom…for all of the obvious reasons. Natalie (June Sister of the Month) and you, Kris. Both of you for having Joie de Vivre! My Aunt Glenda. She’s amazing. After not having a college degree, she recently went back to school in Texas, got her masters in teaching and teaches kids in Special Education. Once her husband, my uncle died, she re-married and brought a whole new family into the mix. I feel so lucky to have them as a part of our lives.

Where do you see women as a whole in the arts in the next five years?
There’s so much of an improvement, in particular for women in their 40s and above. Now, these women have more of an amazing career than when they ever had in their 20s. I think this is inspiring for women across the board. Writers are writing more women of substance and that’s exciting, you know. Even romantic comedies are getting more sophisticated. The real world is difficult…hard. I still want to see the girl riding with her man on the back of a white horse…however she’s got a briefcase…she’s a working woman.

Do you have any advice for the feminine gene pool?
Be true to yourself. That’s the only thing to do.

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