This book is an extraordinary tale of creativity and resilience, and of the power of welltargeted philanthropy to transform the world. F international was a british freelance software and systems services company, founded as freelance programmers in england in 1962, by dame stephanie shirley. Autistica founder dame stephanie shirley releases new book of. Booktopia has let it go, my extraordinary story from refugee to entrepreneur to philanthropist by dame stephanie shirley ch. When lockdown started, i really began to think well, what shall i do if i cant go out and give speeches. Steve, as she very comfortably goes by today, was nowhere near finished with her lifes purpose. Giving thanks to a female tech pioneer youve probably. Let it go by dame stephanie shirley, ch, richard askwith. Steve founded the shirley foundation in 1986, its goal is to support causes in the field of autism, particularly medical research. 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. For autistica founder dame stephanie shirley ch, it was an opportunity to gather together her favourite speeches into a book.
How dame shirley jumped over techs gender gap in the. Dame stephanie shirley is one of britains leading philanthropists and has donated most of her life to helping good causes, especially those close to her heart. As a child, she escaped nazi germany on the kindertransport travelling across europe for two days in a train with a. Let it go the book of the acclaimed, inspiring memoirs. She made 70 of her staff millionaires at no cost to anyone, but herself. My extraordinary story from refugee to entrepreneur to philanthropist with richard askwith, 2012, revised 2018 isbn 97802495493. Dame stephanie shirley is the most successful tech entrepreneur you never heard of. Meet steve the most fascinating woman youve never heard of. Steve shirley on autism, the kindertransport, and the most.
How dame shirley jumped over techs gender gap in the 1960s. Dame stephanie shirley ch is a successful it entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. Jun 12, 2014 dame stephanie steve shirley founded one of the u. Bbc radio 4 desert island discs, dame stephanie shirley.
May 28, 2010 entrepreneur dame stephanie shirley joins kirsty young on desert island discs. Buy let it go, the acclaimed autobiography of dame stephanie. Giving thanks to a female tech pioneer youve probably never. Later to become a pioneering it entrepreneur and philanthropist, she grew up in germany in the 1930s, the child of a jewish father and a gentile mother. Dame steve shirley, the worlds first freelance programmer. Dame steve shirley ch on zoom, philanthropy and her. Dame stephanie shirley took what was meant to be a disadvantage being a woman in the 1950s60s, with a child. Book description dame stephanie shirley is one of britains leading philanthropists and has donated most of her life to helping good causes, especially those close to her heart. Apr 04, 2019 this book has many valuable lessons for founders. Dame stephanie shirley had one heartache her riches couldn. In let it go, her fascinating memoir dame stephanie charts her life from her time as a child in germany and arrival in england as an unaccompanied kindertransport refugee through to her retirement and dedication to charity. Dame stephanie steve shirley biography booking info. Dame stephanie steve shirley ch dbe freng fbcs is an entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist.
Over the years, one of the things ive been doing for philanthropy has been giving speeches, for fundraising and so on. Dame stephanie steve shirley biography dame stephanie shirley is a highly successful entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. How a woman named steve pioneered tech ieee computer. This fascinating memoir charts dame stephanies life from her time as a child in germany and arrival in england as an unaccompanied kindertransport refugee through to her retirement and dedication to charity. Let it go the book of the acclaimed, inspiring memoirs of. The good life books the good life culture editors pick feature home page carousel wealth management philanthropy the good life society the good life dame steve shirley ch on zoom, philanthropy and her upcoming biopic 20th july 2020 by rasika sittamparam. At this time dame stephanie started referring to herself as steve on business development letters. Dame vera stephanie steve shirley is a british information technology pioneer, businesswoman and philanthropist stephanie. An it tech pioneer, she started her first company freelance programmers in 1962 with a capital. The industry still has gender inequality, but shirley showed alternatives were possible. It is a detailed account of how dame shirley coped with her sons autism and the impact this.
On her book raceless georgina lawton is a twentysomething journalist, weekly. This kind of book endeavour accomplishes that and dame stephanie is still very active on. Dame stephanie steve shirley biography booking info for. Only once the sex discrimination act was introduced in 1975 did she start employing more men.
She learned to make computers from scratch and even code in the 1950s. Dame stephanie shirley is a highly successful entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. She is kindly donating all proceeds from the book to autistica. Buy let it go, the acclaimed autobiography of dame. What an incredible legacy dame shirley would have created if the story were to end there it doesnt. Our favourite dame stephanie shirley quotes innovateher.
Oct 29, 2012 book description dame stephanie shirley is one of britains leading philanthropists and has donated most of her life to helping good causes, especially those close to her heart. An it tech pioneer, she started her first company freelance programmers in 1962 with a capital of just. This is the official page for let it go, the remarkable memoir of software pioneer, it entrepreneur and devoted philanthropist dame. Oct 07, 2014 i was five when my world fell apart, dame stephanie shirley also known as steve shirley told a packed audience at henley literary festival last week. Let it go, my extraordinary story from refugee to entrepreneur to. More recently, dame inga beale and her digital transformation of the insurance market also inspires me. Sep 01, 2014 dame stephanie shirley suffered several miscarriages before her son giles was born in 1963, but was heartbroken to find that they boy was autistic and drove her and husband to despair. Autistica founder dame stephanie shirley releases new book. An absorbing read, dame shirley tells her story from birth to date with clarity and some level of detachment considering how strongly she was affected by events.
She arrived in britain as a fiveyearold on the kinderstransport in 1939. She was placed in the care of a foster family in the midlands and attended a girls school in the local area. So to speak book by shirley kobliner, harold kobliner. Feminist, inspiration, role model, women in tech dame stephanie shirley arrived in the uk as a kindertransport child refugee, fleeing the persecutions of nazi germany. In 1962, dame stephanie steve shirley founded freelance programmers, a software firm with innovative work practices and mainly women employees. Dame vera stephanie steve shirley ch dbe freng fbcs nee buchthal. Its always reassuring to know how to knee a man in the groin. Dame stephanie steve shirley encouraged women to pursue careers in tech. Oct 26, 2018 dame stephanie steve shirley ch dbe freng fbcs is an entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist.
In 1988 the company was renamed again, to the fi group, and later as xansa plc. On arrival in london, the sisters were sent to live with foster parents in the midlands. If you do not find this book entertaining and enlightening, ill eat my hat, crow, humble pie, and dirt. This book is an inspiration for all women from all ages, all walks of life and specially for mothers. Named as one of the 100 most powerful women in britain, dame stephanie steve shirley ch has been called an icon, an inspiration, and a pioneer. Ctrl alt delete listen to podcasts on demand free tunein. Dame stephanie shirley is one of britains leading philanthropists and has donated most of her life to helping good causes, especially those. First published by a small imprint in 2012, the book slowly built up an. Oct 01, 2012 an absorbing read, dame shirley tells her story from birth to date with clarity and some level of detachment considering how strongly she was affected by events.
Paintings in hospitals patron dame stephanie shirley launches new book in aid of autistica covid19 stopped us all in our tracks. The company was renamed in 1974 to f international. Shirley adapted quickly, forming strong ties with her new family and learning english. Aug 19, 2016 those results were realized because dame stephanie steve shirley is a fearless brand. Fearless brands are both determined and persistent. The memoirs of dame stephanie shirley, philanthropist, it visionary and pioneer of. Dame stephanies memoir, let it go, republished by penguin in 2012 has sold over 20,000 copies in the uk and just launched in germany too. Having arrived in britain as an unaccompanied child refugee in 1939, she started what became xansa on her dining room table with. Steve shirley wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. In this frank and often hilarious talk, she explains why she went by steve, how she upended the expectations of the time, and shares some. Steve shirley im still having ideas and want to use them. Lockdown was the inspiration for dame steve shirley ch to publish her latest book, so to speak. Fdm everywoman in technology awards entrepreneur award.
She found she was much more successful at getting through the door of potential clients that way. I admire dame shirleys determination, imagination, cheerfulness in the face of huge difficulties and her story is interesting without being oversentimental in the recounting. The reason for dame stephanie shirley s generosity she has given away at least. Nov 26, 2015 dame stephanie shirley founded a femalerun software development company in 1962 but she still had to sign her name as a man to be taken seriously. Shes a global businesswoman, and was the first female president of the british computer society. In association with penguin business and campaign, zone was delighted to host an evening with dame stephanie steve shirley ch, during which she. Dame stephanie steve shirley, founder of an early it firm that employed mainly women in 1960s britain, tells stories from her astonishing life at ted2015. Shirley and harold kobliners astonishing collection provides readers of all stripes with joyful appreciation of 11,000 expressions, phrases, and sayings that teem our daily speech and writing. Let it go explores shirleys trail blazing career as an entrepreneur but it also charts her incredible personal story her dramatic arrival in england. Dame stephanie or steve as she likes to be known, is a workplace revolutionary and successful it entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. Dec 06, 20 by maria popova when she was five years old, dame stephanie steve shirley, born vera buchthal, fled nazi germany as a child refugee, escaping certain death and plunging into a life that would show her a quieter yet oppressively persistent kind of discrimination and injustice. Dame stephanie shirley had one heartache her riches couldnt. Why you should listen in the austerity of postworld war ii england, jobs were few, and opportunities for women to earn a wage were even fewer. Dame stephanie shirley to deliver 3rd annual pembroke college circle lecture entrepreneur turned philanthropist, dame stephanie shirley, will deliver the 3rd annual pembroke college circle lecture on saturday 24 september 2016.
145 931 887 304 399 1524 142 621 989 1240 1111 1560 550 306 338 64 621 1376 1263 1154 776 878 938 508 61 1227 664 866 557 781 662 787 1484 325