Steve Shirley

Dame Stephanie Shirley - 2013

Steve Shirley

Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley (born 16 September 1933) is a British information technology pioneer, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She is best known for founding the software company Freelance Programmers, which was later known as FI Group and then Xansa. Shirley has been a significant advocate for women in the workplace and has made substantial contributions to the field of information technology.

Early Life and Education

Steve Shirley was born as Vera Stephanie Buchthal in Dortmund, Germany, to a Jewish family. In 1939, she was sent to Britain as a child refugee to escape the Nazi regime, arriving on the Kindertransport. She was fostered by a family in the Midlands and later attended the Oswestry Girls' High School.

Shirley went on to study mathematics at the University of London, where she graduated with a degree in mathematics. She later earned a postgraduate diploma in numerical analysis from Imperial College London.

Career

In 1962, Shirley founded Freelance Programmers, a software company that primarily employed women working from home. This was a revolutionary concept at the time, as it provided flexible working conditions for women, particularly those with family responsibilities. The company initially focused on providing software development services to the aerospace and defense industries.

Under Shirley's leadership, Freelance Programmers grew rapidly and became known for its high-quality software solutions. The company was later renamed FI Group and eventually became Xansa, which was acquired by Steria in 2007.

Philanthropy

After retiring from her business career, Shirley dedicated herself to philanthropy. She established the Shirley Foundation in 1986, which has donated millions of pounds to various causes, particularly those related to autism and information technology. Her son, Giles, was diagnosed with severe autism, which inspired much of her charitable work.

Shirley has also been a strong advocate for women in technology and has supported numerous initiatives to encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.

Honors and Recognition

Steve Shirley has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to business and philanthropy. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1980, and in 2000, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to information technology.

In 2013, she was named one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. She has also been awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.

Personal Life

Steve Shirley married Derek Shirley in 1962, and they had one son, Giles, who passed away in 1998. She has written an autobiography titled "Let IT Go," which details her life and career.

See Also

• Women in computing
• History of computing
• Philanthropy in the United Kingdom
• Autism awareness