Name: Dame Stephanie Shirley: Child refugee turned tech mogul
Uploaded: 2022-07-29T11:08:24.431Z
Duration: 1230.84

Dame Shirley.mp4

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English

Life shouldn't be just
a question of also rans.

It should be a question of
doing what is in you to do.

And what I find so wonderful
about my life is I really feel I

I think all life is a
series of small steps.

I started off as a technologist
and then was a supervisor, and

then I was actually heading
a department and so on.

But suddenly I realised that I
wanted to do something much more

independent than being an employee
and almost over night I decided to

set up a company, this was in 1962,
a company that was suitable for women

and the sort of things that we want
from employment, which is always

So my company was really set up
as a sort of social business to

provide an ambiance for women
and I've become quite a feminist.

And it took many, many years before
it really became very business-like.

What initially sparked your
interest in technology?

It's kind of an uncommon area for
females to be found in this area

I was a mathematician, now
a lapsed mathematician.

I always wanted to solve something
called Fermat's Last Theorum.

Now I soon realised that my maths was
not good enough to do anything like

So I moved from mathematics to
computing, which at that time needed

So I've had a great career
and certainly the sciences

So you became an entrepreneur at
a time when female role models in

In the beginning of your career, did
you ever look up to anyone or try to

emulate qualities that represented
sort of who you wanted to become?

I looked to people that I didn't
want to become as it happened.

I had a brute of a sexist boss when
I was 18 and he taught me the very

important thing about leadership, the
things that you're not supposed to do.

And so I've become a very,
people would call me matriarchal.

I look after my staff, I know I used to
know which child, I used to know which

And it became very much an
extension of my own personality.

And one of the difficult things
about business is that you

have to then separate from,
this is me, this is my company.

And eventually the company
has a life of its own.

And that's very exciting, but not
easy for the entrepreneur to then

It's interesting that you say sort
of, that you look after your, you

looked after your staff and how
important do you think that mentorship

I'm not sure that mentorship
really develops leaders

The danger is that if you are mentored
by somebody good, then you seek

then to become a younger, brighter,
newer version of that person.

And life shouldn't be just a question
of also rans, it should be a question

As a woman who for so long was
known for being the first woman or

the only woman in their business to
pioneer so many opportunities for

women, while building an incredibly
successful tech company, what is

your opinion on the opportunities
available to the modern woman?

I think the opportunities are very
different to my generation of women.

You couldn't do this, I couldn't work
in the stock exchange, I couldn't

I even had to ask my
husband's permission to open

You know, one needed that sort of male
authorisation for women's activities.

But since then, today's
women are really left with a

more difficult problem, and
that is the cultural issues.

There is an expectation that women
will do this and they won't do that.

And that is much more difficult
to address than the legal

Having gone through similar barriers,
what kind of practical advice could

you offer to females wanting to start
a business venture of their own?

Who feel there's a lot of
obstacles that are still too great.

I don't think anyone should start a
business unless they're really keen

It just takes over your life and,
you know, unless you've got that

On the other hand, if one's just
a little bit edgy, there are ways

of going into business, which
are less dangerous, which are

And the one that comes to mind
is going on a franchise, so

You're running your own
thing, but you are franchised.

You've got somebody to
help you there and say this

As a refugee, I notice also that many
immigrants start businesses that are

similar to something that is successful
in the land that they've come from,

It may different here,
but let's try it here.

So how did you personally find the
drive to keep pushing when you had so

many obstacles, especially different
kinds of obstacles and again,

I think leadership is very special
and obviously there are some skills

The integrity, the focus that
comes probably from inside.

And what kept me going during
difficult times was just sheer pride.

My Story

Expert Insight

After fleeing Nazi Germany as a child refugee, Dame Stephanie Shirley faced a crusade of feminism in the workplace, took on the all-encompassing challenge of starting a business overnight and created one of the best special schools in Britain. 
Defying the odds, Dame Shirley has become a trailblazer for women in business and a pioneer of information technology. 
"I was never going to let them get me down."

Leadership

Technology

Inspiration

Tech

Women

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Dame Stephanie Shirley

After working her way up from Technologist to heading a department, Dame Shirley realised overnight that she desired something much more independent than being an employee.

Starting a company in 1962

Dame Shirley compares the legal struggles women faced during her career versus the cultural struggles women face today.


Generational differences surrounding opportunities for women

Dame Shirley discusses ways to overcome imposter syndrome and techniques on how to be confident during male-dominant networking events and meetings.

Staying confident

Dame Shirley chats about the women she admires in leadership, and why.

The most inspiring women in leadership

"Enjoy the opportunities that leadership gives."
Dame Shirley describes what it takes to be a good leader and shares her personal leadership style.

Qualities of a good leader

Now a full-time philanthropist, Dame Shirley sheds light upon the gift of giving back.

The reward of giving back

Prior's Court is one of the best special schools in Britain, and is the largest of Dame Shirley's charitable projects.


Prior's Court

Dame Shirley shares her story of fleeing Nazi Germany and leaving her family to enter Britain as a child refugee.
"My parents did a very brave thing. They sent me to England, into the arms of strangers."