Lena Kempf
Who are you?
My name is Lena, and I work at Beck u. Kaltheuner. We manufacture refractory products, including both monolithic concrete and precast components. I advise our customers on our products and serve as project manager for their construction sites. At the same time, I share the experience and insights gained from product use with our laboratory, helping us to continuously adapt our products to our customers’ needs.
How old are you and for how long do you work in the refractories industry?
I'm in my late thirties and have been working in the refractory industry for 8 years. I started out in R&D and have been in technical sales for a little over a year now.
Who has significantly influenced your professional life?
There have been a number of people who have influenced me throughout my career. At every important turning point, there was someone who believed in me and supported me. Often, it was just chance, fleeting encounters that inspired me to take the next step.
Tell us something about your personal background. What do you burn for besides refractories?
I enjoy spending time with my old mare and going for rides with her in the countryside. I also love spending time outdoors in nature, going hiking, climbing, or bouldering. In the summer, I really enjoy taking advantage of what the Sauerland has to offer, with its many reservoirs, and spending my evenings in the cool, refreshing water.
How did you get aware of Women@Refractories?
Somehow, I stumbled upon it through my connection with Charlotte and Kerstin, and I've been involved ever since the first event. Since I loved the idea behind it and the first few events were great, I wanted to support it. So when they asked for help and the leaderboard was created, I automatically got involved.
Why did you join Women@Refractories?
I think it’s a shame that there are still relatively few women working in the refractory industry. When I started working at our company, there were only men working in production. So, changing rooms were built for a female colleague and me. When I started, I sometimes found it difficult as a relatively young woman not to feel intimidated and to find my place in the community. I could have really used some (female) support back then. So I thought the idea behind Women@Refractories was great and wanted to support it.
How has the initiative impacted your professional or personal life?
I've met some wonderful women in the industry, many of whom serve as role models for me, and I've built up a great network. Together with the seminars and events, this sometimes gives me the courage to be a little braver and believe in myself more.
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?
I am part of the Leaderboard team and will also serve as one of the points of contact for our collaboration with FIRE.
How did becoming a member of Women@Refractories and its Leaderboard changed your professional network?
I've built a much larger—and even international—network. It's wonderful to exchange ideas with so many different people, and it brings a wealth of new insights and experiences. It's great to see so many familiar faces again at all kinds of events.
If you had to describe Women@Refractories in one sentence, what would it be?
Women@Refractories is a great opportunity to expand your network, build on your strengths, and learn from the wide range of ideas and experiences.
Thank you so much, Lena! We’re happy to have you in our team!