Starting her software enterprise in 1962 with six pounds of capital, Steve Shirley challenged the workplace norms of the British technology sector. She adopted a masculine pseudonym to secure business contracts that were routinely ignored when signed with her name, eventually building a company that pioneered remote working and flexible employment models for women across the United Kingdom.
Early Life and Education
Born in Dortmund in 1933, she moved to Britain in 1939 as part of the Kindertransport programme. She attended school in Oswestry, where she requested permission to study mathematics at a local boys' school because it was not part of the girls' curriculum. She pursued further education at Sir John Cass College, earning an honours degree in mathematics through six years of evening study while working full-time at the Post Office Research Station in Dollis Hill.
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During the 1950s, she gained experience building computers and writing machine language code. In 1962, she founded Freelance Programmers, a firm designed to accommodate women with family responsibilities. The company allowed staff to work part-time from home, a radical departure from standard industrial practices of the era. Her team managed complex technical projects, including the development of software for the Concorde flight recorder. She served as chief executive officer until 1987, managing the organization during a period of significant growth and industry evolution.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
Following the death of her autistic son, Giles, she focused her resources on medical research and social support. She established the Shirley Foundation in 1986, which provided funding for projects like Prior's Court and Autism99. Throughout her later career, she served as the UK Ambassador for Philanthropy and donated her private art collection to charitable organizations. By the time she ceased these activities, she had contributed over £67 million to various social and medical causes.
Recognition and Legacy
Her contributions to business and information technology earned her numerous distinctions. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1980 and a Dame Commander in 2000. In 2017, she was named a Companion of Honour. She held professional leadership roles, serving as the first female president of the British Computer Society from 1989 to 1990. She died in Reading in 2025 at the age of 91.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, Dortmund
- Died: 2025, Reading
- Company founded: 1962
- Professional pseudonym: Steve
- Appointed OBE: 1980
- Appointed DBE: 2000
- Appointed Companion of Honour: 2017
- Education: Sir John Cass College
Questions readers ask
Why did she use the name Steve?
She adopted the name to overcome systemic gender discrimination in the business world, as letters signed with her given name often received no response.
What was the primary focus of her philanthropy?
She focused on autism spectrum disorders, funding major research, residential schools, and educational initiatives through the Shirley Foundation.
Achievements
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire — 2000
- Mountbatten Medal — 1999
- honorary doctorate — 2009
- Affiliated with Post Office Research Station and F International
- Educated at Sir John Cass College
