#252: From War-Torn Childhood to Tech Billionaire: Dame Stephanie Shirley's Unbelievable Journey

Imagine this: It’s 1939, you’re five years old and World War II has just begun. Together with your sister, you’re forced onto a train departing Vienna with thousands of other children, to escape unthinkable horror. You arrive in London as a refugee and orphan, riddled with fear and uncertainty – unsure where life will take you next. This is the start of Dame Stephanie Shirley’s story – one of the world’s greatest tech entrepreneurs who went on to build a 3-billion-dollar empire. Continuing our exclusive series in London for The Spencer Lodge Podcast, Dame Stephanie shares her incredible journey, which led her to become one of the world's most esteemed technology pioneers. In this episode, we delve into her extraordinary life journey, her entrepreneurial success, her definition of happiness, and much more. This conversation has the power to transform your life and change your perspective on hardship and rejection. Tune in now and get ready to be inspired by one of the most extraordinary women in the world. If you’d like to learn more about Dame Stephanie Shirley’s story, I highly recommend you read her book, Let It Go. By ordering through the link below, every penny of your donation goes straight to Autistica, the UK’s largest research charity. Check it out: https://www.steveshirley.com/let-it-go/

Discussion points: 

04:16 More about Dame Stephanie Shirley18:08 What sparked her entrepreneurial journey22:02 Why she chose a computing career30:22 Dame Stephanie’s definition of happiness37:48 How autism played a role in her life42:52 The people that inspire her44:17 Why salespeople are frowned upon49:09 How she handled resistance

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