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Having arrived in Britain as a five-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie Shirley went on to build one of Britain's most successful software companies. She built a business valued at $3 billion and has dedicated the last three decades of her life to philanthropy, giving away most of her personal wealth. Here are Dame Stephanie's three crisis comforts. Full episode https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/dame-stephanie-shirley-on-91-years-of-resilience-and-brilliance/ Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie_/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.steveshirley.com/ BookLet It Go (2019): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Go-Extraordinary-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist/dp/0241395496 Charities Autistica: https://www.autistica.org.uk/Autism at Kingwood: https://www.kingwood.org.uk/Prior's Court: https://www.priorscourt.org.uk/The Oxford Internet Institute: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists: https://wcit.org.uk/ Stream/buy ‘Allies' by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682 This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson PartnersHost – Andy Coulson CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel PickeringWith special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global For all PR and guest approaches please contact – podcast@coulsonpartners.com
Having arrived in Britain as a five-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie Shirley went on to build one of Britain's most successful software companies. Using the pen name ‘Steve' to be taken more seriously by clients, she built a business valued at $3 billion, turning 70 staff members into millionaires along the way. But her impact goes far beyond the business world. Dame Stephanie has dedicated the last three decades of her life to philanthropy, giving away most of her personal wealth. Once the 11th richest woman in the UK, she's the only person to drop off the Sunday Times Rich List due to generosity. Inspired by her late son, Giles, who was profoundly autistic, Dame Stephanie has helped transform care for those with autism along with supporting a range of other causes. In this episode she shares stories from her childhood, her career and her personal life – all of them packed with invaluable lessons. A former podcast guest of ours, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, wrote the foreword to Dame Stephanie's brilliant memoir, Let it Go; and described her as “ ... a role model for how to build your life, not just your company.” She wasn't wrong. Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie_/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.steveshirley.com/ Book Let It Go (2019): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Go-Extraordinary-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist/dp/0241395496 CharitiesAutistica: https://www.autistica.org.uk/Autism at Kingwood: https://www.kingwood.org.uk/Prior's Court: https://www.priorscourt.org.uk/The Oxford Internet Institute: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists: https://wcit.org.uk/ Stream/buy ‘Allies' by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682 This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson PartnersHost – Andy Coulson CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering, Linus FielderWith special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global For all PR and guest approaches please contact – podcast@coulsonpartners.com
Dame Stephanie Shirley has a fascinating – and difficult – story to tell. Aged just five, she was one of nearly 10,000 children who were sent to England on board the Kindertransport to escape the dangers posed by Nazi Germany.It was a life defining moment that would equip Dame Stephanie with a resilience that would see her set up a successful software business, at a time when attitudes to women in the workplace were very different.Ultimately, that business made millionaires of more than 70 co-owners and has enabled Dame Stephanie to set up several charities and not-for-profits in the autism and IT spheres.She talks to Management Today about employee ownership, her tips for entrepreneurs and how to become an effective public speaker.Credits:Presenter: Claire WarrenProducer: Inga MarsdenArtwork: David Robinson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Subscriber-only episodeSOEP meets Dame Steve Shirley – a coding female pioneer Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley is a game changer in whatever she does and we were delighted that she agreed to chat to Somewhere on Earth. She arrived in England as an unaccompanied child refugee on the Kindertransport in 1939. She convinced her all girls' school to allow her to learn maths at the boys' school and in 1962 started a software business from her dining table which grew to have 8,500 employees and was worth US$3bn. The company initially only employed women working from home. Since retiring in 1993, Dame Stephanie's life has been dedicated to philanthropy in IT and autism, including setting up the Oxford Internet Institute. Brazil's Supercomputer to predict natural disasters Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has finally received funding for a new supercomputer that will significantly improve climate forecasting. The new supercomputer is 15 times more powerful than the institute's current one and scientists hope it can help the country deal with a massive rise in extreme weather events – last year they averaged more than three a day. Angelica Mari speaks to Clezio Nardin, INPE's Director about the project. The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Angelica Mari. More on this week's stories: Dame Steve Shirley Brazil's New Supercomputer Editor: Ania LichtarowiczProduction Manager: Liz Tuohy Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/newFollow us on all the socials: Join our Facebook group Instagram Twitter/X If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple PodcastsContact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.coSend us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
SOEP meets Dame Steve Shirley – a coding female pioneerDame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley is a game changer in whatever she does and we were delighted that she agreed to chat to Somewhere on Earth. She arrived in England as an unaccompanied child refugee on the Kindertransport in 1939. She convinced her all girls' school to allow her to learn maths at the boys' school and in 1962 started a software business from her dining table which grew to have 8,500 employees and was worth US$3bn. The company initially only employed women working from home. Since retiring in 1993, Dame Stephanie's life has been dedicated to philanthropy in IT and autism including setting up the Oxford Internet Institute. Brazil's Supercomputer to predict natural disastersBrazil's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) has finally received funding for a new supercomputer that will significantly improve climate forecasting. The new supercomputer is 15 times more powerful than the institute's current one and scientists hope it can help the country deal with a massive rise in extreme weather events – last year they averaged more than three a day. Angelica Mari speaks to Clezio Nardin, Inpe's Director about the project. The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Angelica Mari. More on this week's stories:Dame Steve Shirley Brazil's New SupercomputerEveryday AI: Keep up and get ahead by making AI work for yourCan't keep up with AI? We've got you. Everyday AI helps you keep up and get ahead.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showEditor: Ania LichtarowiczProduction Manager: Liz Tuohy Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/newFollow us on all the socials: Join our Facebook group Instagram Twitter/X If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple PodcastsContact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.coSend us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Fi is away today so we bring you Jane² this fine Thursday. They chat the myth of the Irish driving license, silicone testicles and Italian roots.Plus, businesswoman Dame Stephanie Shirley reflects on her career and escaping the Nazi regime ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day.Dame Stephanie's memoir, Let It Go, is available online: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Go-Extraordinary-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist/dp/0241395496If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiAssistant Producer: Eve SalusburyTimes Radio Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Heuer, Christinewww.deutschlandfunk.de, Kultur heute
Today's guest is Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley - a hugely successful tech entrepreneur and now philanthropist as well as author of her memoir, Let It Go. I actually recorded this interview back in 2016 for my book Female Innovators at Work and you can find the full interview on my YouTube channel, thanks to my friends at Bullet Media who filmed it.But now feels like a good time to release this episode on the podcast for several reasons, not least because Dame Stephanie turned 90 last month and it was Ada Lovelace day this week – which is a celebration of all the incredible achievements by women in STEM.And Dame Stephanie is an incredible woman. Having escaped the Nazi regime as an unaccompanied five year old child on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie settled in the UK and went on to huge success as a technology and entrepreneurial pioneer when she founded an all-woman software company called F International that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. It was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and made 70 of her staff millionaires - but this was against many odds as she describes in this interview – from being a child refugee to dealing with sexism and knockbacks in the industry to the heartbreak of losing her beloved autistic son, Giles. Dame Stephanie Shirley is a huge inspiration to me and after you have listened to her story today, I know she will inspire you too.So please do enjoy my conversation with the amazing Dame Stephanie Shirley. Dame Stephanie Shirley website / book / TwitterDanielle Twitter / Instagram / NewsletterPS Another quick shout out to Wave coaching app - the sponsor of last week's episode. Check them out hereYou can watch this interview on YouTube hereImage via TED
Imagine this: It's 1939, you're five years old and World War II has just begun. Together with your sister, you're forced onto a train departing Vienna with thousands of other children, to escape unthinkable horror. You arrive in London as a refugee and orphan, riddled with fear and uncertainty – unsure where life will take you next. This is the start of Dame Stephanie Shirley's story – one of the world's greatest tech entrepreneurs who went on to build a 3-billion-dollar empire. Continuing our exclusive series in London for The Spencer Lodge Podcast, Dame Stephanie shares her incredible journey, which led her to become one of the world's most esteemed technology pioneers. In this episode, we delve into her extraordinary life journey, her entrepreneurial success, her definition of happiness, and much more. This conversation has the power to transform your life and change your perspective on hardship and rejection. Tune in now and get ready to be inspired by one of the most extraordinary women in the world. If you'd like to learn more about Dame Stephanie Shirley's story, I highly recommend you read her book, Let It Go. By ordering through the link below, every penny of your donation goes straight to Autistica, the UK's largest research charity. Check it out: https://www.steveshirley.com/let-it-go/ Discussion points: 04:16 More about Dame Stephanie Shirley18:08 What sparked her entrepreneurial journey22:02 Why she chose a computing career30:22 Dame Stephanie's definition of happiness37:48 How autism played a role in her life42:52 The people that inspire her44:17 Why salespeople are frowned upon49:09 How she handled resistance Show Sponsors: Najahi Events: The UAE's leading event promoter https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTVhttps://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/ Dame Stephanie Shirleyhttps://www.instagram.com/damestephanie_/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie/
Ever wondered what it takes to leave a secure corporate job and dive into the world of entrepreneurship? In this episode, we're joined by Liane Katz, who did just that. Hear her riveting story of transformation, her candid revelations about personal challenges, and her unique approach to cultivating habits. This isn't just about a career change; it's about challenging norms and making a difference in a male-dominated industry. Don't miss out on this inspiring journey of resilience and innovation!Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:Liane talks about her inspiration, Dame Stephanie Shirley, who had to use a man's name, Steve, to get responses to her business development letters in the 1960s. She admires how Dame Stephanie created a company of freelance programmers, mostly mums working from home, which parallels Liane's own business. Liane discusses her transition from a secure corporate job at The Guardian to entrepreneurship after having children. She credits her parents' entrepreneurial spirit for showing her that this path was possible and fulfilling. Liane continues discussing her messiness, admitting that it's a source of arguments with her partner. She's trying to cultivate tidiness to reduce these arguments and is reading books on how to declutter. This shows her commitment to embracing change in her personal life.Liane shares her approach to incorporating small habits into her life, like doing a 30-second sun salutation in the morning. She believes in making changes super small to make them stick. -----------------------ABOUT LIANELiane Katz is a champion of digital literacy and diversity in tech. From her humble beginnings as a journalist, she embraced the world of coding and technology, leading to a remarkable career spanning 20 years in digital media. After a transformative 12-year stint at The Guardian, Liane took a leap of faith, left her corporate role, and ventured into the world of entrepreneurship. She co-founded MAMA.codes, an innovative coding school for children aged 3-11, designed to empower the next generation with crucial digital skills. Now, MAMA.codes has taught over 5,000 kids to code and is on a mission to widen its impact, all under Liane's dynamic leadership. As she guides MAMA.codes into its exciting digital future, Liane continues to be a passionate advocate for diversity in tech and remains committed to creating a world where every child, regardless of their circumstances, has access to coding education.-----------------------For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.
The pioneering 89-year-old entrepreneur shares her life story as a child refugee who fled Nazi Germany and created a $3 billion technology company. Background: At BoF VOICES 2022, the pioneering 89-year-old entrepreneur Dame Stephanie Shirley discussed her life working with early computers at the London's Post Office Research Station and how, against all odds, she created a software company for — and run by — other ambitious women, valued at almost $3 billion. “You could always tell ambitious women by the shape of our heads. They're flat on top and that comes from being patted patronisingly,” said Shirley, describing the sexist work environments of the day. This week on The BoF Podcast, Dame Stephanie discusses the hurdles she had to overcome as a woman in the technology industry, the growth of her influential company, Freelance Programmers, and warns us about the growing power of giant technology companies.Key Insights:Growing up as a child refugee who fled from Nazi Germany Shirley realised that being able to adapt was the key to surviving and thriving. “I realised that change is often welcome indeed, that I could initiate change. And when it was necessary, that sense of personal empowerment took time to develop. But it has never left me,” said Shirley. Freelance Programmers was one of the first software companies that allowed women, who had long left the workforce to create families, to work from home, she explained. “It was a company of women, a company for women, an early social business, a software house which recruited professionally qualified women who had left the industry,” said Shirley.For Shirley, trying to thrive in a male-dominated field like software development, required a little “subterfuge.” After other businesses refused to respond to her letters signed with her name, “Stephanie” Shirley quickly adapted and began signing them as “Steve.” “If I used the family nickname of Steve … customers would not only read them, but pick up the phone to reply. When they discovered that Steve was actually a woman, they were already half hooked,” said Shirley. According to Shirley, as the Internet develops so does the divide between the corporate world and the common Internet user, further widening the gap between the truth and fiction. “Our reliance on digital technology has placed us in the hands of powerful tech innovators and the giant corporations they spawned … They have the power to influence our daily lives in ways few people understand,” said Shirley.Additional Resources:How Technology Can Power a Better Future: During BoF VOICES, The Business of Fashion hosts Dame Stephanie Shirley who discusses her first company, Freelance Programmers and what it was like working in a male dominated industry in the 1960s. Please watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoOtQdBod9U To subscribe to the BoF Podcast, please follow this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
One of the best books we've read in 2023 is the story of Dame Stephanie 'Steve' Shirley, who started a business of women freelance programmers in a male-dominated world in the 1960s based in London.The bookends of this remarkable story include an escape from the Holocaust from her homeland in Austria to her new adopted country in England, thanks to Kindertransport.While there are many business insights in Steve's book, Let It Go, she pulls back the curtain to reveal the many ups and downs in her family life, including the love, care, and hardship of raising a son who was profoundly autistic.The other bookend describes Steve's goal of co-ownership with her staff, along with the gifting of many millions of dollars through philanthropic causes.Read the show notes - LINK
In this first episode in a new series, interviewer Chloe Fox talks to Dame Stephanie Shirley about philanthropy, loss and why age is a state of mind.If you would like to find out more about Dame Stephanie's charitable works, please head to www.steveshirley.com. More details about Autistica can be found at www.autistica.org.ukIf you would like a personally signed copy of either 'So to Speak' or 'Let It Go' please email pa@steveshirley.com - ALL proceeds go to Autistica. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Managing Partner, Simon Ridpath, and Senior Partner, Bart Peerless, are joined by tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dame Stephanie Shirley CH. In this first episode, Dame Stephanie discusses her lessons from the world of business and her life as a philanthropist, having founded two significant autism charities: Prior's Court School for young people with complex autism and Autistica, the UK's national autism research charity. About Dame Stephanie Shirley CH Dame Stephanie is a businesswoman and philanthropist, having pioneered a career in the information technology sector. She started her own business in the early 1960s, Freelance Programmers, staffed by women working from home, which was ultimately valued at $3 billion, making millionaires of 70 of her team members. Given the status quo in the sixties, this all-female business was trailblazing and flourished over the following decades. Since then, Dame Stephanie has established The Shirley Foundation, which is one of the top fifty grant-giving foundations in the UK. She has also founded two significant autism charities: Prior's Court School for young people with complex autism and Autistica, the UK's national autism research charity. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2017, a membership limited to only 65 individuals globally, for her services to the IT industry and philanthropy. During the podcast Simon and Bart ask Dame Stephanie thought provoking questions about her life and lessons that she wishes to share with listeners. As well as talking about her journey in the world of technology and her successes, Dame Stephanie talks about her struggles with growing an international organisation. "I started off in a very entrepreneurial way and have tried to remain innovative as an organisation so that some of the things I have done have been shock horror types of things, trying to take the whole company, which is quite sizable and profitable, into co-ownership, that took 11 years, and what I have learnt that most of the things that you do in business take that sort of time. My first charity took 17 years to set up. These things are slow and take a lot out of you." Bart comments: "You are the most significant private donor in the field of autism in the country, possibly in the world." He touches on how Dame Stephanie's changing relationship with her business led to moving towards into the world of philanthropy and how one moves into making a difference in the world. Dame Stephanie replies: "I don't like to be bored, I like to do new things, I like to make things happen, so it's worked out quite well for me. Some of the projects that you have helped me with, such as house purchasing and house selling, which is the normal domestic thing, but also, I started to buy houses on behalf of Charities, including one that I bought for £15 million. These are significant changes of scale as far as I am concerned - as well as growing another business with the school I set up, which is the largest charitable project I did, for £30 million, which took five years." Simon asks Dame Stephanie how she stays with her projects and what role she takes in these causes: "The key thing that I do is set the culture, so it's pretty firm. Even when I've left, I am told that the trustees think, and say "What would Steve do in this situation? And although it's a nice to hear, it's not always a good thing, as things then won't change." If you would like a personally signed copy of either So To Speak or Let It Go. Please email pa@steveshirley.com – all proceeds go to Autistica.
WorkL Founder Lord Mark Price joins the inspirational Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley CH to discuss her remarkable life and career.In 1939 Dame Stephanie arrived at the age of five in the UK as a Kindertransport child refugee from Nazi Germany and went on to found an all-woman software company that redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. It was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and made 70 of her staff millionaires. Since ‘retiring' her work has been in philanthropy, with a particular focus on autism and IT.Dame Stephanie was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2017, a membership limited to only 65 individuals globally, for her services to the IT industry and philanthropy.This podcast is brought to you by WorkL. Visit WorkL.co to find a job in the happiest companies, take our happiness test, network and get career support from experts and much much more. Work Happier with WorkL.
This week on the Change Maker: Dame Stephanie Shirley. Dame Stephanie is a philanthropist and business owner in the United Kingdom. She arrived there shortly after the start of World War II as an unaccompanied child refugee. From those beginnings, she went on to create one of the first woman owned and staffed software companies in the UK to great success. She has since created several charities for causes near and dear to her. You can learn more about Dame Stephanie Shirley and he philanthropic work at: https://www.steveshirley.com To find more information on this show: https://www.augustapodcasts.com/thechangemaker You can watch the video version of our conversation on our Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/AZGqiXN3qRg
What is true resilience? Imagine being stripped away from your birth family due to the circumstances of war? Imagine being shipped off to a country with a completely different language and having to live with strangers. Okay, that's tough enough. Now imagine entering into what at the time is a fledgling industry that wants nothing to do with you because it's a men's club and you are a woman. As if all that's not enough, let's now imagine taking all that on the chin, and you go on to become a Technology Icon who started a software business employing only women in the 1960s. Stay tuned because, over the next two episodes, we sit down with a technology Icon and a true champion of women in technology and leadership since the 1960s, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In 1962 Dame Stephanie founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. Her company, Freelance Programmers, grew to 8,500 employees, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion, and made 70 of her staff into millionaires. Since 'retiring,' her focus has been on philanthropy, especially on autism and IT. Over the last 30 years, Dame Stephanie has given away almost $100 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Dame Stephanie is a workplace revolutionary, and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent venture philanthropist. She is the first person to drop off the Time's Rich List, having given away too much of her money, an achievement which gives her great pleasure! Website www.steveshirley.com Social Media https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie https://twitter.com/DameStephanie_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhartuk https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie Part 1) The Journey, Refugee to Champion for Women Where does Resilience Come From? "Think for Yourself-Not About Yourself" How Trusting Builds Trust Memoirs of a 5 Years Old Refugee Escaping the Nazi's The Compassion of Strangers with a Horrible Message Confronting Today's Lack of Compassion Going from Refugee to Dame Becoming one of only 65 (globally) named as "Companion of Honour" The Entrepreneurial Journey Fighting for Women Pioneering a Remote Workforce in the 1960s
What is true resilience? Imagine being stripped away from your birth family due to the circumstances of war? Imagine being shipped off to a country with a completely different language and having to live with strangers. Okay, that's tough enough. Now imagine entering into what at the time is a fledgling industry that wants nothing to do with you because it's a men's club and you are a woman. As if all that's not enough, let's now imagine taking all that on the chin, and you go on to become a Technology Icon who started a software business employing only women in the 1960s. Stay tuned because, over the next two episodes, we sit down with a technology Icon and a true champion of women in technology and leadership since the 1960s, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In 1962 Dame Stephanie founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. Her company, Freelance Programmers, grew to 8,500 employees, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion, and made 70 of her staff into millionaires. Since 'retiring,' her focus has been on philanthropy, especially on autism and IT. Over the last 30 years, Dame Stephanie has given away almost $100 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Dame Shirley received her BSc in 1956 and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours[15] for services to industry; Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to information technology.;[16] and Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to the IT industry and philanthropy.[17] The CH refers to her Companion of Honour – only 65 people in the world have one Dame Stephanie is a workplace revolutionary, and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent venture philanthropist. She is the first person to drop off the Time's Rich List, having given away too much of her money, an achievement which gives her great pleasure! Website www.steveshirley.com Social Media https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie https://twitter.com/DameStephanie_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhartuk https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie Part 2) Giving Away $100 Million and Becoming Wealthier Recruiting on Character and Values Recognizing the New Face of Leadership is Comedic From the Echoes of a Wailing "goodbye" to The Trauma of a Silent "Hello." Building a Company that would Create the Black Box for Concord Dropping off the "Time's Riches" list by giving away over $100 million! When a Workaholic Entrepreneur is Confronted with a Severely Autistic Child Looking the Black Dog of Depression in The Eye and Asking for Help Why the Most Rewarding Work has Nothing To do with Profit. Fighting for Those who are Disregarded.
What is true resilience? Imagine being stripped away from your birth family due to the circumstances of war? Imagine being shipped off to a country with a completely different language and having to live with strangers. Okay, that's tough enough. Now imagine entering into what at the time is a fledgling industry that wants nothing to do with you because it's a men's club and you are a woman. As if all that's not enough, let's now imagine taking all that on the chin, and you go on to become a Technology Icon who started a software business employing only women in the 1960s. Stay tuned because, over the next two episodes, we sit down with a technology Icon and a true champion of women in technology and leadership since the 1960s, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In 1962 Dame Stephanie founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. Her company, Freelance Programmers, grew to 8,500 employees, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion, and made 70 of her staff into millionaires. Since 'retiring,' her focus has been on philanthropy, especially on autism and IT. Over the last 30 years, Dame Stephanie has given away almost $100 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Dame Stephanie is a workplace revolutionary, and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent venture philanthropist. She is the first person to drop off the Time's Rich List, having given away too much of her money, an achievement which gives her great pleasure! Website www.steveshirley.com Social Media https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie https://twitter.com/DameStephanie_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhartuk https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie Part 1) The Journey, Refugee to Champion for Women Where does Resilience Come From? "Think for Yourself-Not About Yourself" How Trusting Builds Trust Memoirs of a 5 Years Old Refugee Escaping the Nazi's The Compassion of Strangers with a Horrible Message Confronting Today's Lack of Compassion Going from Refugee to Dame Becoming one of only 65 (globally) named as "Companion of Honour" The Entrepreneurial Journey Fighting for Women Pioneering a Remote Workforce in the 1960s
What is true resilience? Imagine being stripped away from your birth family due to the circumstances of war? Imagine being shipped off to a country with a completely different language and having to live with strangers. Okay, that's tough enough. Now imagine entering into what at the time is a fledgling industry that wants nothing to do with you because it's a men's club and you are a woman. As if all that's not enough, let's now imagine taking all that on the chin, and you go on to become a Technology Icon who started a software business employing only women in the 1960s. Stay tuned because, over the next two episodes, we sit down with a technology Icon and a true champion of women in technology and leadership since the 1960s, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In 1962 Dame Stephanie founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. Her company, Freelance Programmers, grew to 8,500 employees, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion, and made 70 of her staff into millionaires. Since 'retiring,' her focus has been on philanthropy, especially on autism and IT. Over the last 30 years, Dame Stephanie has given away almost $100 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Dame Shirley received her BSc in 1956 and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours[15] for services to industry; Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to information technology.;[16] and Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to the IT industry and philanthropy.[17] The CH refers to her Companion of Honour – only 65 people in the world have one Dame Stephanie is a workplace revolutionary, and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent venture philanthropist. She is the first person to drop off the Time's Rich List, having given away too much of her money, an achievement which gives her great pleasure! Website www.steveshirley.com Social Media https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie https://twitter.com/DameStephanie_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhartuk https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie Part 2) Giving Away $100 Million and Becoming Wealthier Recruiting on Character and Values Recognizing the New Face of Leadership is Comedic From the Echoes of a Wailing "goodbye" to The Trauma of a Silent "Hello." Building a Company that would Create the Black Box for Concord Dropping off the "Time's Riches" list by giving away over $100 million! When a Workaholic Entrepreneur is Confronted with a Severely Autistic Child Looking the Black Dog of Depression in The Eye and Asking for Help Why the Most Rewarding Work has Nothing To do with Profit. Fighting for Those who are Disregarded.
Part 2 of 2 What is true resilience? Imagine being stripped away from your birth family due to the circumstances of war? Imagine being shipped off to a country with a completely different language and having to live with strangers. Okay, that's tough enough. Now imagine entering into what at the time is a fledgling industry that wants nothing to do with you because it's a men's club and you are a woman. As if all that's not enough, let's now imagine taking all that on the chin, and you go on to become a Technology Icon who started a software business employing only women in the 1960s. Stay tuned because, over the next two episodes, we sit down with a technology Icon and a true champion of women in technology and leadership since the 1960s, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In 1962 Dame Stephanie founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. Her company, Freelance Programmers, grew to 8,500 employees, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion, and made 70 of her staff into millionaires. Since 'retiring,' her focus has been on philanthropy, especially on autism and IT. Over the last 30 years, Dame Stephanie has given away almost $100 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Dame Shirley received her BSc in 1956 and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours[15] for services to industry; Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to information technology.;[16] and Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to the IT industry and philanthropy.[17] The CH refers to her Companion of Honour – only 65 people in the world have one Dame Stephanie is a workplace revolutionary, and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent venture philanthropist. She is the first person to drop off the Time's Rich List, having given away too much of her money, an achievement which gives her great pleasure! Website www.steveshirley.com Social Media https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie https://twitter.com/DameStephanie_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhartuk https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie Part 2) Giving Away $100 Million and Becoming Wealthier Recruiting on Character and Values Recognizing the New Face of Leadership is Comedic From the Echoes of a Wailing "goodbye" to The Trauma of a Silent "Hello." Building a Company that would Create the Black Box for Concord Dropping off the "Time's Riches" list by giving away over $100 million! When a Workaholic Entrepreneur is Confronted with a Severely Autistic Child Looking the Black Dog of Depression in The Eye and Asking for Help Why the Most Rewarding Work has Nothing To do with Profit. Fighting for Those who are Disregarded. . . Curious to discover how tapping into the Anatomy of Meaning can #actualize your #business, #culture, #Leadership and #tribe DovBaron.com "Those Who Control Meaning for The Tribe, Also Control The Movement of That Tribe" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What makes a great entrepreneur? It's a BIG question for a BIG episode.
What is true resilience? Imagine being stripped away from your birth family due to the circumstances of war? Imagine being shipped off to a country with a completely different language and having to live with strangers. Okay, that's tough enough. Now imagine entering into what at the time is a fledgling industry that wants nothing to do with you because it's a men's club and you are a woman. As if all that's not enough, let's now imagine taking all that on the chin, and you go on to become a Technology Icon who started a software business employing only women in the 1960s. Stay tuned because, over the next two episodes, we sit down with a technology Icon and a true champion of women in technology and leadership since the 1960s, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In 1962 Dame Stephanie founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women at that time. Her company, Freelance Programmers, grew to 8,500 employees, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion, and made 70 of her staff into millionaires. Since 'retiring,' her focus has been on philanthropy, especially on autism and IT. Over the last 30 years, Dame Stephanie has given away almost $100 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Dame Stephanie is a workplace revolutionary, and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent venture philanthropist. She is the first person to drop off the Time's Rich List, having given away too much of her money, an achievement which gives her great pleasure! Website www.steveshirley.com Social Media https://www.facebook.com/DameStephanie https://twitter.com/DameStephanie_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhartuk https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie Part 1) The Journey, Refugee to Champion for Women Where does Resilience Come From? "Think for Yourself-Not About Yourself" How Trusting Builds Trust Memoirs of a 5 Years Old Refugee Escaping the Nazi's The Compassion of Strangers with a Horrible Message Confronting Today's Lack of Compassion Going from Refugee to Dame Becoming one of only 65 (globally) named as "Companion of Honour" The Entrepreneurial Journey Fighting for Women Pioneering a Remote Workforce in the 1960s . . Curious to discover how tapping into the Anatomy of Meaning can #actualize your #business, #culture, #Leadership and #tribe DovBaron.com "Those Who Control Meaning for The Tribe, Also Control The Movement of That Tribe" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
686: Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, entrepreneur and venture philanthropist, reflects on her storied career as an IT pioneer. After escaping Nazi Germany and arriving in the UK as a child, she went on to hold a series of influential positions in the technology industry. Dame Stephanie describes the trials and tribulations of starting a company as a woman in the 1960s, building client relationships as a woman-led business, and adopting an ahead-of-its-time approach to workplace flexibility. She also shares her passion for autism research, her role as a “venture philanthropist,” in the space, and progress made in developing an autism treatment. Finally, Dame Stephanie discusses her memoir, Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story, and how she remains active and productive in the later years of her life.
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
686: Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, entrepreneur and venture philanthropist, reflects on her storied career as an IT pioneer. After escaping Nazi Germany and arriving in the UK as a child, she went on to hold a series of influential positions in the technology industry. Dame Stephanie describes the trials and tribulations of starting a company as a woman in the 1960s, building client relationships as a woman-led business, and adopting an ahead-of-its-time approach to workplace flexibility. She also shares her passion for autism research, her role as a “venture philanthropist,” in the space, and progress made in developing an autism treatment. Finally, Dame Stephanie discusses her memoir, Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story, and how she remains active and productive in the later years of her life.
In Conversation With...Dame Stephanie Shirley is a workplace revolutionary, tech entrepreneur and ardent philanthropist. In 1962 she founded an all-women software company that pioneered remote working and redefined the expectations and opportunities for working women. Her company, Freelance Programmers, was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and turned 70 of her staff into millionaires. She's also the author of two books – her memoir ‘Let It Go' and ‘So To Speak' an anthology of some of her speeches. Both are available via her website SteveShirley.com – and all proceeds go to her autism charity Autistica. Since retiring, Dame Stephanie's focus has been on philanthropy – over the last 30 years, she's given away almost £70 million to good causes, primarily in the fields of autism and IT. Together, her three autism charities – Autistica, Prior's Court and Autism at Kingwood – employ close to 1,000 people. Here, she joins SheerLuxe Founder & Editor Georgie Colderidge Cole to talk more about her incredible life and career, and the personal reasons which have informed her work with autism and neurodiversity. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley is a workplace revolutionary and successful IT entrepreneur-turned-ardent philanthropist. In 1962, she founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working, upending the expectations of the time. It was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and made 70 staff members millionaires. Since retiring, Dame Stephanie's focus has been on philanthropy — especially autism and IT. She's brought three significant autism charities to sustainability, which together employ approximately 1,000 people: Autistica, Prior's Court, and Autism at Kingwood. Her TED Talk, “Why Do Ambitious Women Have Flat Heads?” has over 2 million views. She is the Author of two books, Let It Go and So To Speak, and every penny from the books sold goes to Autistica, the medical research charity she founded. In this episode… Women undertake many responsibilities in both their professional and personal lives. These may include being an entrepreneur, business leader, and mother. All of these responsibilities present unique challenges that women have to face and find solutions for. Dame Stephanie Shirley has gone through these phases in her life. A child refugee at five years old, she procured determination and resiliency at a young age. Eventually, Dame Stephanie started a company to help women in the IT space operate in more inclusive and diverse workplaces, became a mother, and started a foundation to provide support to autistic kids. She embraced all the challenges she faced, became stronger and wiser over the years, and continues working toward a more equitable, generous future. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Dame Stephanie Shirley, an IT entrepreneur and philanthropist, about her life story, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. Dame Stephanie talks about her motivation to start a software company in 1962, her books, and the importance of value recruitment. You don't want to miss these inspirational, insightful stories.
In this special episode of Designed for Life, we celebrate International Women's Day with a very special speech given by Dame Stephanie Shirley.Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley CH is an ardent venture philanthropist with an unrelenting energy for creating positive change. She arrived in England as an unaccompanied child refugee at the start of the Second World War, and in 1962 started a software business from her dining table, which grew to employ 8,500 people and was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion.Motivated to share the rewards of her success with a society that had extended such generosity to her as a child, Dame Stephanie decided to give away her wealth. Now in her late 80s, she is driven by a lifetime of extraordinary experiences and achievements and still dedicates every day to making her life one that was worth saving.We know that you will enjoy listening to Dame Steve's message for a day that is very close to her heart and one that the Design and Technology Association is proud to celebrate with female students and women across the UK. So sit back, relax in 30-minutes of 'me time' and enjoy Designed for Life, celebrating women's achievement across the UK with Dame Stephanie Shirley. PS. If you are inspired to read a signed copy of Dame Shirley's book 'Let it go', please email Lynn@steveshirley.com. As stated in the podcast, it is a unique and inspirational read, and all proceeds from sales made through this link are sent directly to her charity Autistica.
A child refugee, tech pioneer, philanthropist, businesswoman, mother and true trailblazer, Dame Stephanie paved the way for generations of women to come, by using intuition and action to break ideological views of what women are capable of. In her conversation with Holly she shares the breadth of her experiences, struggles and her unrelenting energy for creating positive change. After escaping Nazi Germany at the shockingly young age of five years old, Dame Stephanie Shirley reflects on her childhood memories, as a young girl growing up in such a turbulent historical period. After battling survivors' guilt for a number of years, Dame Stephanie ‘Steve' Shirley in her own words says that from then on, “I decided to make mine a life worth saving and then just got on with it”. Dame Stephanie's words, actions and legacy encourage each of us to take risks, to challenge the status quo and to rewrite the myths of what women can achieve. Follow Holly Tucker MBE and Holly & Co on Instagram. Check out our Holly & Co website. Dame Stephanie Shirley: Purchase Steve's incredible memoir ‘Let It Go' from Amazon using this link or email lynn@steveshirley.com for a personally signed copy Website: https://www.steveshirley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie_/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/damestephanie_ Sign up to Letters From Steve: https://www.steveshirley.com/letters-from-steve/ You Might Also Enjoy: If you enjoyed this episode you might also enjoy my conversation with Dame Mary, co-founder of Specsavers.
This is a replay of an episode with Dame “Steve” Stephanie Shirley. I recorded this one in 2019, it was a sunny summer's day in London and we recorded it in a meeting room at Penguin's offices. Dame Stephanie is tech pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She also goes by the name "Steve" which she used to sign business letters to potential clients when they were not responding to her. If you haven't already, go and watch her Ted Talk "Do ambitious women have flat heads?" it is funny and moving and super interesting to hear what it was like being a woman in tech during the 60s. In this episode, we talk about her brilliant memoir Let It Go. In this episode we talk about workplace misogyny, making money, resilience, giving back, and why it's important to always keep learning. Hope you enjoy x See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
When tech entrepreneur Dame Stephanie Shirley started her software business in the 1960s she had trouble getting noticed. People (men) would ignore her letters. So she decided to sign them off 'Steve Shirley' instead. It got her noticed, and the nickname stuck. That's only one chapter in her truly remarkable story (read it all in her autobiography Let It Go). 5 year old Stephanie Shirley arrived in the UK without her parents on a Kindertransport train from Viena, escaping Nazi Europe. The trauma of her childhood has shaped her life and is the reason for all her achievements, "I'm a survivor. I'm also a patriot. I love this country with a passion that only someone who has lost their human rights can feel. My childhood has driven my personality, driven my life and continues to do so. That is where the resilience comes from."Listen to our conversation to find out how she has always used that drive to champion the achievements of other women, to encourage them to put themselves out there and make money. Also hear Steve's thoughts on public speaking marketing a persuasion happiness Thanks always for listening, subscribe so that you never miss an episode!
Dame Stephanie Shirley, known as ‘Steve' for reasons explained in the podcast, escaped Nazi persecution before founding a software startup in 1962 with just £6 which provided employment to hundreds of women when they weren't taken seriously in the workplace. “I remember selling a six figure software project to a junior minister, and he was trying to pinch my bottom. It was very hard to maintain a sort of professionalism.” Steve's story is one that reminds us both how much the world has moved on since the early days of her startup, and sadly how little has changed. “I can't believe how today we're still talking about the same sorts of things that I was talking about 50 years ago: feeling undervalued, women's ideas taken and presented by men as their own, women being talked over, women being patronised, women being sexually assaulted.” From coming to England on the Kindertransport in 1939, to falling in love with mathematics, being appalled at pay inequality, founding her own company (Xansa plc, now part of the Sopra Group) in 1962, and navigating the 1975 equal opportunities legislation: “We tried to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. But all in all, we realised that that was the way the world was going. And now of course, all of business is much more inclusive. But it was a struggle. In the early days, women were second class citizens.” Having retired from the business aged 60 (she's now 88), Steve is now a full time philanthropist, focusing on things she knows and cares about, treating her various charities as businesses. Her advice to listeners? “All the important things that I've done have been either disruptive or long term. Sticking with 11 years for this, 17 years for that, five years [there]. These are not things that are done overnight with a burst of energy.” We chat about: From refugee to entrepreneur Why she had to become Steve to get traction Surviving a nervous breakdown Becoming a good philanthropist Links: Book - Let It Go Book - So To Speak Want to receive our podcast on a weekly basis? Subscribe to our newsletter!
When we were young, our heroes included the likes of Floella Benjamin, Tony Hart, and Long Distance Clara (yes, we know we're showing our age!).
Are you sitting comfortably? Viv Groskop talks to Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley CH, the businesswoman, philanthropist and technology pioneer. They explore why she changed her name - and why she brought her kitchen stool to America to give her TED talk in front of Bill Gates. Dame Stephanie argues that women must learn to ask for money: our input won't be valued if we don't value ourselves. She reveals how she learned a "healthy selfishness" after ending up in hospital, and tells Viv the single secret of success in business and romance... Find out more about Stephanie's work at steveshirley.com Viv's latest book, Lift As You Climb is out now. @vivgroskop
Dame Stephanie Shirley CH is a successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. Having arrived in Britain as an unaccompanied child refugee in 1939, she started what became Xansa plc (now part of the Sopra Group) on her dining room table with £6 in 1962. In 25 years as its Chief Executive, she developed it into a leading business technology group, pioneering new work practices and changing the position of professional women (especially in hi-tech) along the way. Her Dameship in the Millennium honours was for services to IT. She was awarded the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2017. She served on corporate Boards such as Tandem Computers Inc. (1992-7), the John Lewis Partnership plc (1999-2001) and AEA Technology - previously the Atomic Energy Authority (1992-2000). Her philanthropy is based on her strong belief in giving back to society. She focuses on IT and autism (her autistic son Giles died age 35 in 1998). Dame Stephanie was the first woman Master of the IT livery company; the first woman President of the chartered British Computer Society; and the UK’s Ambassador for Philanthropy in 2009/10. Her charitable Shirley Foundation spent out in October 2018. It made over £67m grants and initiated a number of projects that are pioneering by nature, strategic in impact and significant in money terms. This included three autism charities: Autism at Kingwood (support); Prior’s Court (education); and Autistica (research) which together employ over 1000 staff. In 2001 she co-founded the Oxford Internet Institute which focuses on the social, economic, legal and ethical issues – not the technology – of this network of networks. *** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. *** Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams). EP Tags:
Our very special guest for this episode of the HReSource podcast is DAME STEPHANIE SHIRLEY - Pioneering entrepreneur, innovator, problem solver and philanthropist. If you thought home based, flexible working and equality and inclusivity in the workplace were new concepts you might be surprised to hear they were the cornerstone of Dame Stephanie's first company, Freelance Programmers founded in 1962. It was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and made 70 of her staff millionaires. In this podcast we investigate Dame Stephanie's love of maths, early career in computing, the sparks and obstacles that led to forming the company, a girl named Steve, relationships, partnerships, public speaking on a global scale and ultimate sense of accomplishment in being a hugely successful Venture Philanthropist – not simply offering financial support to causes close to her heart such as Autism, the charity Autistica and specialist schools but in so doing providing the strategic focus and idea generation to help ensure such support delivers successful outcomes. DAME STEPHANIE SHIRLEY CH is a workplace revolutionary and successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. In 1962, she founded an all-woman software company that pioneered remote working, upending the expectations of the time. It was ultimately valued at almost $3 billion and made 70 of her staff millionaires. Since ‘retiring', her focus has been on philanthropy, especially autism and IT. Her TED Talk has had over 2 million views, and her memoir, ‘Let It Go', is being made into a film produced by BAFTA-winning Damian Jones. ‘So To Speak' an anthology of some 30 speeches from the past 40 years was published in November 2020. Copies of her books can be ordered via www.steveshirley.com – every penny she receives goes to Autistica, the medical research charity she founded. Twitter @DameStephanie_ Instagram @DameStephanie_ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hresource/message
The incredible Dame Stephanie Shirley CH DBE FREng FBCS, tells us how she came to the UK as an unaccompanied child refugee and how her passion and determination empowered her to become a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Dame Stephanie Shirley – always known as Steve – tells us about her work revolutionising the workplace and as a major philanthropist. On Tuesday, Leicester University are launching their 'Student Sex Worker Policy and Toolkit'. We hear from Professor Teela Sanders, a Professor of Criminology at Leicester University who explains why she is leading this initiative and the feminist commentator and journalist Sarah Ditum gives us her view. Are men beginning to turn to cosmetics to improve their appearance in the same way as women? Danny Gray, who created the WarPaint make-up range for men believes this to be the case and the make-up artist, Lisa Eldridge, author of Face Paint: the History of Make-Up gives her thoughts. What’s the best way to approach shyness in your child? We hear from Nadia Finer who runs an online programme for shy 7-14 year olds who want to feel braver, and more able to speak up and join in. Is it time to end the idea that being in a couple is the superior way to live? We hear from Professor Sasha Roseneil the author of a new book, The Tenacity of the Couple-Norm. And we discuss the therapeutic benefits of clay with Kate Malone, one of the UK’s leading potters and ceramicists – and Charlotte Clarkson, who’s been getting the chance to try out the medium at her local youth centre. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Sarah Crawley
In 1962 a fearless woman with 6 euros launched a software company that employed only women and later went on to make 71 of her employees multi millionaires by offering stake in her company. This iconic woman's name is Dame Stephanie Steve Shirley. Steve shares her life ́s inspiring story in her memoir Let It Go: My extraordinary Story from refugee to entrepreneur to philanthropist. She was one of the first women in the U.K to start a software business with the idea of working from home in the 1960's. Steve teaches us about the pioneering trail led by her and the women of her generation as well as how to master the art of letting go. This is one of our most powerful mentor episodes to date. Ok MW the journey to getting closer to the best YOU continues on this episode! Subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes and Spotify to help us continue to bring powerful conversations like these to you every week. GET 10% off each tee you purchase from our lifestyle brand and we will GIVE 10% to a covid19 relief fund. Visit www.IAmAMillennialWoman.com Subscribe to our Newsletter for Perks and Resources: wearemillennialwomen.com Millennial Women Community: MW Instagram MW Facebook
About Dame Stephanie Shirley is one of Britain's leading philanthropists and has used her life to drive positive change in the world. Shirley empowered a generation of women in technology, giving them unheard of freedom to choose their own hours and manage their own workloads. She started her business in the sixties working from home with no computer or email. Writing machine code in her kitchen. It went on to become a business worth over £3billion and she is perhaps the most important person in technology you haven't heard of. Her book 'Let It Go' explores Shirley's trail blazing career as an entrepreneur but it also charts her incredible personal story - her dramatic arrival in England as an unaccompanied Kindertransport refugee during World War Two and the tragic loss of her only child who suffered severely from Autism. The book is so highly regarded that it is being made into a movie so more people can enjoy her inspiring story and give her the recognition she deserves. Interview We discuss some of Dame Stephanie's biggest lessons in life. She has dealt with incredible adversity and knows what it is like to have the world crumble around you. She provides amazing insights for dealing with the terrible things life throws at you whilst remaining a force for good. Dame Stephanie started the remote work movement in the sixties employing women who couldn't get equal pay. She is a master of confronting major problems and finding ways to solve them instead of just accepting things the way they are. The "When life give you lemons" philosophy accurately describes her stunning ability to just keep fighting and making the world a better place. She teaches us how to stay calm and build ourselves back up whilst not dropping the ball on key concerns for the planet.Special Guest: Dame Stephanie Shirley.
***Don't forget : Business of Software Europe is on 23-24 March 2020 in Cambridge UK. Get your tickets at businessofsoftware.eu*** Dame Stephanie is 50 years ahead of her time. While remote work is becoming more popular now, Dame Stephanie's company was remote only from the outset. Forget Slack, this was a time when there was still a decade before email was invented and almost 30 years before Tim Berners Lee invented the World Wide Web. In this interview, Mark and Dame Stephanie will discuss some of the lessons she's learned (often the hard way) in starting, building, growing and exiting one of Europe's most successful companies. You will hear why some of her core values - trust, a belief in strong culture, valuing outputs over inputs, a sense of values and determination - are as critical to building a successful business today as they were in the jet age. Recorded at Business of Software Europe 2019. To listen to more BoS Talks, go to businessofsoftware.org/videos --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/business-of-software/message
On Friday 18th October TechPixies went to Festival of Female Entrepreneurs, Bristol. Hosted by Enterprise Nation.At 2pm we had the absolute pleasure of listening to Dame Stephanie Shirley give an inspirational speech. Although recorded on a phone in a large auditorium, we have endeavoured to improve the audio to allow you to share our experience.Many thanks to Dame Stephanie Shirley CH for sharing her story at Enterprise Nation's Festival of Female Entrepreneurs.You can buy her book 'Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story - From Refugee to Entrepreneur to Philanthropist' here. Or as I have you can download the audio book, here.If her story made you feel like you wanted to contribute towards autism research, then please follow this link to Autistica. Thank you.Enjoy!
This week Sarah interviews special guest Dame Stephanie Shirley; tech pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In this episode we talk about what it was like to start a tech business as a woman in 1962 with a £6 initial investment (she went on to make £150m, at least £65m of which she has given away).We talk about her book Let It Go and her secrets to success including having faith in others, relentless enthusiasm and building a values led, progressive organisation.If you'd like to read more Sarah has written an article for Management Today profiling Dame Stephanie which you can find, along with our other career resources, on www.amazingif.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dame Stephanie Shirley is tech pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She also goes by the name "Steve" which she used to sign business letters to potential clients when they were not responding to her. If you haven't already, go and watch her Ted Talk it is funny and moving and super interesting to hear what it was like being a woman in tech during the 60s.In 1939 Steve arrived in Britain unaccompanied, as child refugee during the war, and when she was 29 she started what became her multimillion-pound IT software consultancy, from which she made a £150m fortune - on her dining room table with £6 in 1962. She retired in 1993 to concentrate on philanthropic work, since then she has given away at least £65 million via her charity Shirley Foundation. She continues to give to a range of causes including autism research, a cause she was drawn to through her late son Giles who had autism. Her Damehood in the Millennium honours was for services to IT.She was awarded the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2017.Aged 85 she remains married to her first husband Derek.In this episode, we talk about her brilliant memoir Let It Go. In this episode we talk about workplace misogyny, making money, resilience, giving back, and why it's importance to keep learning. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dame Stephanie Shirley, known to business contacts as Steve because in a male-dominated business world she would sign letters with her pen name. She has an amazing book called, "Let It Go" where she documents her life and starts with her experience as an unaccompanied child refugee at age 5 where her parents wanted to protect her from perishing in the Holocaust. Her early experience of the 'glass ceiling' at work because of gender discrimination encouraged her to set up her own business which, she did in 1962 with only 6 pounds. Dame created one of UK’s first software startups. She forged the path for not only women but the whole computing industry. While planning to start a family, Dame hit on the idea of offering part-time employment to professional women with dependants. Essentially, she had pioneered freelance driven business and wanted it to be woman-owned. The IT business prospered with a lot of hard work and, in 1996 the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange earning hundreds of millions of pounds and had employed 8,500 people. This wealth has enabled her to devote her time and resources to giving something back to society, Dame ranks among the world's leading philanthropists. In 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio and discussed why she had given away more than £67 million of her personal wealth to different projects. She has supported strategic projects in the fields of autism (her son, Giles was autistic) and IT. Her focus on autism is done via The Shirley Foundation. They facilitate scientific research aimed to understand what Autism is as opposed to what it looks like. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [3:00] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dame Stephanie Shirley. [6:30] Dame Stephanie opens up about her parents sending her on the Kindertransport. [17:15] What is Holocaust guilt? How has it impacted Dame Stephanie? [19:30] How Dame Stephanie got into business ownership and why IT. [24:50] What did the early years of computer coding look like? [27:00] Enduring challenging times and how Derek supported her through it all. [30:50] How fixed prices helped the business grow. [34:00] Why co-ownership was so important to Dame Stephanie. [36:00] What were some of the largest projects Dame Stephanie & her team worked on? [39:00] The challenges of growing the team and building a solid staff. [41:15] What led Dame Stephanie to bring on a CEO? [43:40] Dame Stephanie talks about caring for her son, Giles. [47:45] What is the Shirley Foundation? [50:10] How has the field of autism research advanced over the years? [53:30] AI is the future. [55:00] Why we should embrace the perspective of autistic individuals. [58:40] Dame Stephanie’s high point in her career. In this episode… Imagine what it would be like to have door after door of opportunity closed in your face? Would you be able to preserve and find a way to succeed or would it discourage you beyond hope? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from the renowned philanthropist and entertainer, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In her conversation with Jeremy, Dame Stephanie opens up about her early life as a child refugee, how she got started in the IT sector, what led her to start her own business, challenges she has faced along the way, and much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful and intriguing episode featuring Dame Stephanie! How have you responded to adversity and challenges in your life? Have they made you stronger or do they continue to inflict pain? Do you find yourself somehow walking the line between both? Dame Stephanie looks back to her early childhood as a refugee fleeing Germany during World War Two as a source of both pain and strength. The memory is understandably painful as it is tragic, having to say goodbye to her parents and embark on a new life in England, the event has caused Dame Stephanie to live with survivors guilt for most of her life. In spite of all this pain, she also finds a way to draw strength. She views her life as a gift and one she is not willing to waste! The resilience and perseverance that pushed Dame Stephanie forward from her painful childhood years also fueled her rise as an entrepreneur. Getting told to sit out of certain conversations and areas of influence due to her sex did not sit right with Dame Stephanie, she was determined to forge her own way forward. With the support and encouragement of her husband, Derek, Dame Stephanie went on to start her own organization in 1962 offering part-time employment to professional women with dependants. It’s amazing to hear from someone who was so driven and passionate about paving the way forward, not only for herself but for others as well. Let’s face it, no one is a powerhouse of success unto themselves. Often behind every wealthy and efficient leader is a team of men and women who keep the organization running. What steps have you taken to build a solid team around you? Dame Stephanie knew that she couldn’t succeed all on her own, she would need to choose the right people to bring on her team and keep the business headed in an upward direction. Though she had some significant struggles with some close individuals leaving her organization, she was able to bounce back. Dame Stephanie also came to the point in her career where she stepped out and placed her trust and the direction of her organization in the hands of a CEO! As you’ve progressed through your career, have you considered how you can give back to those who are less fortunate than you? In what ways can you leverage your success to give back? For Dame Stephanie, the impulse to give back came from two sources, her career in IT and her son Giles. As a successful businesswoman, Dame Stephanie utilized her authority to empower the women in her organization through her co-ownership strategy. Then she went to work pouring her time and resources into advocacy and research work in the field of autism to help individuals like her son, Giles. What can you learn from Dame Stephanie’s story? Resources Mentioned on this episode Dame Stephanie's website The Oxford Internet Institute Let It Go Autistica Dame Stephanie’s TED Talk The Shirley Foundation Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.
Today we Dame Stephanie Shirley, known to business contacts as Steve because in a male-dominated business world she would sign letters with her pen name. She has an amazing book called, "Let It Go" where she documents her life and starts with her experience as an unaccompanied child refugee at age 5 where her parents wanted to protect her from perishing in the Holocaust. Her early experience of the 'glass ceiling' at work because of gender discrimination encouraged her to set up her own business which, she did in 1962 with only 6 pounds. Dame created one of UK’s first software startups. She forged the path for not only women but the whole computing industry. While planning to start a family, Dame hit on the idea of offering part-time employment to professional women with dependants. Essentially, she had pioneered freelance driven business and wanted it to be woman-owned. The IT business prospered with a lot of hard work and, in 1996 the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange earning hundreds of millions of pounds and had employed 8,500 people. This wealth has enabled her to devote her time and resources to giving something back to society, Dame ranks among the world's leading philanthropists. In 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio and discussed why she had given away more than £67 million of her personal wealth to different projects. She has supported strategic projects in the fields of autism (her son, Giles was autistic) and IT. Her focus on autism is done via The Shirley Foundation. They facilitate scientific research aimed to understand what Autism is as opposed to what it looks like. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:10] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dame Stephanie Shirley. [4:10] Dame Stephanie talks about caring for her son, Giles. [9:00] What is the Shirley Foundation? [11:20] How has the field of autism research advanced over the years? [14:45] AI is the future. [16:15] Why we should embrace the perspective of autistic individuals. [19:50] Dame Stephanie’s high point in her career. In this episode… What does it look like to devote your wealth and influence to leaving a legacy through philanthropy? How do you choose which causes are worth your time and resources? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from renowned philanthropist and pioneer, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In her conversation with Jeremy, Dame Stephanie opens up about caring for her son, Giles, why she started the Shirley Foundation, how the field of autism research had evolved, why society needs to embrace the perspectives of people with autism, and so much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Dame Stephanie Shirley! As a leader, you know what it is like to enjoy certain benefits and privileges because of your status and your position. Have you ever considered leveraging your privileges to positively impact the lives of vulnerable individuals in your community? Dame Stephanie Shirley has committed a significant portion of her personal wealth and resources to the field of autism research. Having raised a son with autism, Dame Stephanie became aware of the lack of resources and research allocated to understanding this topic. She founded Autistica in 2004 which has gone on to raise over £8.5 million in support of autism research. What can you learn from Dame Stephanie's story? How will you leverage your position and power to help others? What is the future of business? How do some of the most talented and successful minds in the business world view the future? When presented with this question, Dame Stephanie was quick to point to Artificial Intelligence. Having witnessed the rise of modern automation, Dame Stephanie is convinced that the future will only continue to build on these advances. Are you ready to embrace the future? Is your business prepared? Don’t sit on the sidelines, lead the way in your industry! Learn from the likes of Dame Stephanie and other leaders so you can maintain a competitive edge! Resources Mentioned on this episode Dame Stephanie's website The Oxford Internet Institute Let It Go Autistica Dame Stephanie’s TED Talk The Shirley Foundation Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.
Businesswoman and philanthropist Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley speaks to the Telegraph's Bryony Gordon in the ninth episode of her new podcast, Mad World, where she interviews guests about their mental health experiences. Dame Stephanie discusses her battles with anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies having started out as a child refugee through to her experiences of raising her autistic son Giles, the inspiration behind her charity Autistica. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On this episode, Tammy had the honor of speaking with Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley. In 1962, Dame Stephanie founded Freelance Programers, a software firm with innovative work practices — and (mainly) women employees. Dame Stephanie has often been called The first lady of technology. Today Dame Stephanie devotes her time to giving back to society.
A fascinating and honest life story. It starts as a story of a five year old clutching the hand of her nine year old sister, travelling from Vienna on a Kindertransport to escape the Nazis in 1939. Dame Stephanie describes how all that she is stems from that discontinuity in her life and how the […] The post Silver Linings appeared first on JDOV.
Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley is a philanthropist and The Shirley Foundation is one of the top 50 grant-giving foundations in Britain. She arrived in Britain on the Kinderstransport in 1939, aged five. In 1962, she founded her first software company and went by the name “Steve” to open doors in the male-dominated business world. She retired in 1993 with an estimated £150 million fortune. Dame Stephanie now concentrates on philanthropic work and donates to autism research.
Dame Stephanie gives a talk about her philanthropic work in autism, looking at the condition's history, its causes, the treatments, specialist education and society's position on autism.