Fireside chat with Dame Stephanie Shirley and Martha Lane Fox: Startup Grind Europe Conference 2017

TL;DR

Stevie started a successful social business for women in the 1960s, faced challenges, and now focuses on philanthropy and social issues.

Transcript

Wow lucky me I get to be on stage with my heroine and you get to hear her incredible story facilitated by a wobbly Baroness I was lucky enough to first meet Stevie when I was just coming out of my comm adventures and beginning to do more work and the kind of things that she's done post her business but I want to start because you're all doing your ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👩‍💼 Stevie founded a social business for women in the 1960s, driven by a crusade against sexism and a desire for women's professional success.
• 🥳 She faced challenges in the early days, using limited technology and facing skepticism, but grew her company to employ hundreds of people and work on impactful projects.
• 😫 Stevie now focuses on philanthropy, setting up a school for disabled pupils and addressing social, economic, legal, and ethical issues related to the internet.
• 👨‍💼 She highlights the importance of balancing the excitement of entrepreneurship with the challenges of sustaining business operations.
• ↩️ Stevie's experiences showcase the resilience required in entrepreneurship, turning failures into opportunities for growth and success.
• 🥡 Her advice emphasizes passion, training, quality partnerships, and taking action in pursuing entrepreneurial goals.
• 😑 Stevie's story inspires with her dedication to social causes and addressing pressing global challenges with a philanthropic mindset.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Stevie start her business, and what was her motivation?

Stevie started her business as a crusade for women's rights, aiming to show that women can have successful professional careers and combat sexism from the 1950s and 60s.

Q: What were some of the challenges Stevie faced in the early days of her business?

In the 1960s, Stevie faced struggles with limited technology, like using only telephones, and skepticism about a company run by and for women, but she persevered to build a successful business.

Q: How did Stevie approach entrepreneurship, sales, and business development?

Stevie recognized the importance of selling over showcasing technical skills, learned to love her clients and teams, and made strategic compromises in her business to succeed in operational research work.

Q: What advice does Stevie offer to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Stevie emphasizes finding something you care about, getting trained in it, surrounding yourself with quality people, mastering finance and marketing, and ultimately taking action to pursue your goals.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Stevie started a social business for women as a crusade against sexism in the 1960s.

• She faced struggles in the early days with limited technology but grew to employ hundreds of people.

• Now, she focuses on philanthropy, setting up a school, and addressing social and ethical issues.