29 Apr Women of the Year Lecture
Jo Richardson Community School Sixth Form students were invited to attend the 2016 Women of the Year Lecture, sponsored by The Royal Institution of Great Britain, London on Monday 25th April. The event was hosted by award winning BBC broadcaster, Sue MacGregor, and the students met Sandi Toksvig and Baroness Lawrence amongst others.
From escaping Germany in the Kinderstransport to becoming a successful businesswoman, from being the mother of an autistic child to becoming one of Britain’s greatest philanthropists: guest speaker Dame Stephanie Shirley shared her incredible life story with a packed audience of Women of the Year friends and alumnae including former Women of the Year Susie Hart and Baroness Doreen Lawrence. The conversation began with Sue and Dame Stephanie talking about her childhood as a refugee in England living with foster parents, after escaping from Nazi Germany in the Kindertransport. Dame Stephanie described how her parents’ decision to send her in the Kindertransport ultimately saved her life.
After the event the girls spoke at length to Dame Stephanie about her career, her IT business, originally known as Xansa and now part of the Sopra Steria Group, describing the organisation as a social business, focused not on making profit but to provide suitable and flexible careers for working women.
“It was an incredible experience to meet a strong business woman who embodies everything we as young women want to aspire to” said Bethany Knight 17.
Ms Boller
Student Communication Manager
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