Tobias Steffen
Who are you?
My name is Tobias, I‘m a researcher and AI innovation manager at Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e. V.. I am a trained ceramics engineer with a study background in electrical engineering and information technology.
How old are you and for how long do you work in the refractories industry?
I am 35 years old and have been working in the refractory industry for almost six years. Before becoming a professional, I helped out as a student in Olaf Krause's working group at the University of Applied Sciences in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Koblenz.
Who has significantly influenced your professional life?
Both Olaf Krause and Christian Dannert. Olaf Krause was my mentor when it came to shaping my career path as a student, deepening my expertise, and getting started in the refractory industry. Christian Dannert is my mentor and supporter during my first job as a certified specialist. I owe a great deal to both of them. But my greatest thanks go to a production manager at my old workplace. I started working there in my early 20s as an unskilled machinist and machine setter. When the company’s situation became more precarious and it seemed likely that I wouldn’t get another contract, he encouraged me to use my vocational high school diploma to start college, because - unlike most people - he saw talent in me. The rest is history.
Tell us something about your personal background. What do you burn for besides refractories?
In my free time, I love to share my time with my family. I also volunteer in various areas of community life. For example, I serve as a spokesperson for science and higher education policy at the state level within a political party. Within the party, I’m also increasingly active at the local level in advocating for animal welfare and nature conservation. This is a matter of great personal importance to me, as I get along much better with animals than with most people. My cat probably plays a big part in this; she has been by my side through the lowest lows and highest highs of my life for 13 years now.
Aside from that, I love spending time in nature and enjoy “disconnecting” from all digital media to recharge my batteries and stay mentally healthy. I enjoy sports, do gardening, love to go hiking or bikepacking often, and almost always have my camera with me - photography is one of my many passions.
Otherwise, I’m probably the classic “nerd.” I like to sit in my room, tinker with small microelectronic projects, program interfaces and automations for everyday life, or manage my own little server. Basically, though, I develop new hobbies and passions at regular intervals, which is why I rarely get bored. There’s always something going on ;-)
How did you get aware of Women@Refractories?
Easy to answer for me: I co-founded it :-)
Why did you join Women@Refractories?
Probably because of my own experiences from early childhood, I’ve always had a problem with the unequal treatment of different social groups. That’s why I seized the opportunity and founded this initiative with my colleagues Kerstin and Charlotte - to make a difference that no one ever made for me.
How has the initiative impacted your professional or personal life?
Of course, this initiative has completely turned my professional life upside down. By openly addressing issues related to equality and diversity, you quickly draw attention to yourself in more conservative and traditional industries. And when you add my physical appearance to the mix, that just adds another layer to it. Nevertheless, I’ve received nothing but positive feedback so far, especially within our industry. Since our initiative was founded, many men have started thinking differently about their role in the industry and in society. That makes me proud.
In addition, my professional network has expanded enormously since then, which also makes me very happy. This way, I simply get to know even more people in our field and gain more insights into different realities of life.
But there are differences in my personal life as well. Since I deal so extensively with social and gender-related inequalities in my professional life, my focus on these issues is much sharper in my personal life, and I navigate the world with much greater awareness. I address problems more openly and strive to be a modern, progressive man who, while still making mistakes, is willing to work on them.
Which specific tasks or areas do you currently support within the initiative, and/or in which areas would you like to contribute in the future to expand your professional or soft skills?
Since the founding of Women@Refractories, I have been involved in shaping the initiative’s strategic direction. This includes developing its thematic focus as well as establishing the structures needed for growth.
I am also responsible for the initiative’s design and corporate identity. The brand design, therefore, is my brainchild. In addition, I created the website and curate it, bringing it to life with content.
Sometimes I also take the stage as part of the remaining founding duo and try to communicate my own convictions in a way that fosters understanding and encourages participation.
How did becoming a member of Women@Refractories and its Leaderboard changed your professional network?
I became a Leaderboard member naturally by creating it together with Kerstin. Since then, however, my network has expanded to include several wonderful people who help us shape the Leaderboard. Without this group of incredibly ambitious people, none of this would be possible. Many people also forget that this initiative is entirely volunteer-driven. That’s why I can’t thank all our supporters enough for their dedication!
If you had to describe Women@Refractories in one sentence, what would it be?
An absolute necessity for a bright future for our industry.
Thanks, Tobi!