Lillian Gilbreth

Pioneered industrial engineering and workplace efficiency while balancing motherhood.

Lillian Gilbreth (1878–1972) was a groundbreaking industrial psychologist and engineer who transformed workplace efficiency and ergonomics. Collaborating with her husband Frank Gilbreth, she developed motion study techniques to optimize productivity while prioritizing worker well-being. After Frank's death, she continued their work, becoming the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Gilbreth applied her expertise to household management, designing kitchen layouts that inspired the modern work triangle. Her book The Home-Maker and Her Job (1927) blended engineering with domestic life. As a mother of 12 children, her family life inspired the memoir Cheaper by the Dozen, later adapted into films. She advised the U.S. government during WWII, improving women's working conditions in factories.

Gilbreth broke barriers in male-dominated fields, earning over 20 honorary degrees. Universities like Purdue and MIT hired her as a professor, where she mentored future engineers. Her legacy endures in ergonomic design and time-management studies. Documentaries like The Gilbreth Time and Motion Study highlight her contributions to both industry and family life.