The world of technology and philanthropy mourns the loss of Dame Stephanie Shirley, who passed away at the age of 91. A visionary entrepreneur, she shattered glass ceilings by founding Freelance Programmers in 1962—a groundbreaking software company that employed women working from home.
A Revolutionary Approach to Work
Dame Stephanie, originally named Vera Buchthal, fled Nazi Germany as a child refugee before settling in the UK. Determined to challenge gender inequality in the workplace, she built her company with a radical model: flexible, home-based employment for women in computing—decades before remote work became mainstream.
Legacy in Tech and Beyond
Her firm, later renamed Xansa, became a major player in the tech industry, proving that women could excel in software development. Beyond business, Dame Stephanie dedicated her later years to philanthropy, donating over £67 million to autism research—a cause close to her heart due to her son’s condition.
Tributes Pour In
Colleagues and admirers remember her as a fierce advocate for gender equality and innovation. "She didn’t just break barriers—she redesigned the system," said one industry leader. Her memoir, Let It Go, remains a testament to her resilience and vision.
