Dame Stephanie Shirley
Pioneering Tech Entrepreneur | Philanthropist & Autism Advocate
About
Dame Stephanie Shirley is a visionary tech entrepreneur who revolutionized the software industry. After founding Freelance Programmers in 1962, she grew the company into a pioneering IT services firm, making millionaires of 70 of her female employees.
Awarded a DBE for services to IT, Shirley is also an esteemed philanthropist, donating over £67 million to causes including autism research. Her memoir 'Let IT Go' was critically acclaimed.
Shirley's inspiring keynotes share lessons from her trailblazing career, empowering audiences to drive innovation and create positive social impact.
Talks1
Why do ambitious women have flat heads?
Dame Stephanie Shirley is the most successful tech entrepreneur you never heard of. In the 1960s, she founded a pioneering all-woman software company in the UK, which was ultimately valued at $3 billion, making millionaires of 70 of her team members. 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 sure-fire ways to identify ambitious women …
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