Dame Stephanie Shirley, pioneering female tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, dies at 91

Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley, a pioneering computer industry entrepreneur and advocate for women’s rights in tech, has died at age 91. Born Vera Buchthal in Dortmund, Germany, in 1933, she fled Nazi persecution via the Kindertransport to the UK just before World War II. Overcoming gender discrimination, she founded Freelance Programmers in 1962, a software company that employed nearly exclusively women, mainly mothers, enabling flexible work from home. This innovative model challenged industry norms and created opportunities for women coders at a time when the tech sector was overwhelmingly male. Shirley adopted the name ‘Steve’ to navigate the male-dominated business environment. Her company, later known as FI Group and then Xansa, became highly successful, employing thousands and contributing to significant technology projects, including software for Concorde and NATO. Beyond entrepreneurship, she was a dedicated philanthropist, donating much of her £150 million fortune to autism-related causes and IT initiatives, inspired in part by her autistic son. She was also deeply involved in founding autism support services. Dame Stephanie was a trailblazer not only in technology and business but also in challenging sexism, pioneering flexible workplace practices, and championing diversity. She received numerous honours, including being named Dame Commander of the British Empire. Her legacy endures in the tech industry and philanthropy.