Only 25 of the world’s 300 largest cities have female mayors, and just 5% of municipal leadership positions and 10% of the highest-ranking roles in top global architecture and urban planning firms are filled by women. But, argues a new book, the future of cities is female. Cities become more livable when women take the lead.

From Paris to Bogota, Manila to Montréal, despite often fierce opposition, female leaders are reclaiming streets, reimagining mobility, and designing safer, more inclusive public spaces. Nineteen of these inspirational women are profiled in Women Changing Cities: Global Stories of Urban Transformation by Canadian urban mobility advocates Melissa and Chris Bruntlett. Their 208-page book—out on 1 October—was commissioned by RIBA Publishing, the publishing arm of London’s Royal Institute of British Architects.

Read more at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2025/09/18/data-shows-cities-thrive-when-women-lead/