Here’s something I learned while in London:
The Waterloo Bridge of London, known as “The Ladies’ Bridge,” earned this nickname because women made up the majority of the construction workforce, completing the project during World War II while men were away at war.
For decades, the contribution of the roughly 350 female laborers—who performed heavy tasks like welding, riveting, and cement mixing while dodging Luftwaffe bombs—was largely an oral legend passed down by Thames riverboat pilots but ignored by local politicians.
Their efforts were officially recognized and validated when historian Dr. Christine Wall and filmmakers unearthed archival photographs from 1944 proving the women’s work.
Today, the bridge is celebrated for its sweeping views of both the City of London and the City of Westminster.
We rode over the bridge several times. It’s quite the sight to see.
Here’s the best part:
The Waterloo Bridge, or The Ladies Bridge, is the only bridge built across the Thames that was built ahead of schedule and under budget.
Not a surprise.
Companies appointing women CEOs experienced approximately 20% greater stock-price momentum during the following two years than comparable companies. Female-led firms also produced stronger stock returns relative to the market.
Startups founded or cofounded by women generated $730,000 in cumulative five-year revenue, versus $662,000 for companies founded by men—about 10% more revenue.
Women-founded startups generated 78¢ in revenue for each $1 raised, compared with 31¢ for male-founded startups—about 2.5 times as much revenue per investment dollar.
Investments in companies with at least one woman founder performed 63% better than investments in all-male founding teams.
Women are constantly and consistently matching and often outpacing their male counterparts in the business world.
Despite this truth, a certain segment of the male population — typically conservative, often thin-skinned, and almost always in possession of a fragile ego — seeks to subvert, suppress, and undermine female advancement, only to the detriment of themselves and the world around them.
These are small, angry, stupid men for whom their sexist, patriarchal beliefs are countered and made to look foolish by simple facts and hard, incontrovertible data.
The evidence is clear:
The world is better when more women are in positions of leadership.
And in the position of bridge builders, too.
