DIVERSITY FOR SMALL AND LARGE COMPANIES.
The Women@Refractories initiative is making a tangible impact by engaging professionals across companies of all sizes—from innovative startups to global industry leaders. Our reach spans small, medium, and large enterprises, demonstrating a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion at every level of the refractories sector.
By providing accessible resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy, we ensure that professionals—regardless of their organization’s scale—can connect, grow, and contribute to a more equitable industry.
Through these efforts, Women@Refractories is advancing gender equity, empowering women to lead, and helping shape a more diverse and dynamic future for the refractories industry. Together, we are breaking down barriers and building a community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
SCALING COMMUNITIES.
Over the past 365 days, Women@Refractories has experienced remarkable growth, with our community expanding by 88%—a testament to the increasing demand for diversity, inclusion, and professional development in the refractories industry. This surge reflects not only the initiative’s growing relevance but also the collective commitment of individuals and organizations to drive meaningful change.
From professionals at the start of their careers to seasoned leaders, our community now unites a broader, more diverse network of voices. This rapid growth strengthens our ability to foster mentorship, share knowledge, and advocate for gender equity across all levels of the sector.
As we continue to grow, our focus remains clear: to build a supportive, dynamic network that champions equality and shapes the future of refractories—one connection at a time.
DIVERSITY IN THE TARGET GROUP.
The Women@Refractories initiative unites a broad and diverse community of professionals from across the refractories industry. Our community represents a wide range of fields, each contributing unique expertise and perspectives to drive innovation and progress.
The community is strongly represented in key areas such as Business Development, Research & Development, Sales, Operations, and Engineering, underscoring the critical roles these functions play in shaping the industry. Additionally, professionals from IT, Education, Human Resources, Project Management, and Marketing add further depth and variety to our network.
By bringing together individuals from different disciplines, Women@Refractories fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth. This diversity strengthens our collective ability to address industry challenges, promote best practices, and create a more inclusive and forward-thinking refractories sector.
The Voices of Refractory: 2025 Survey Report
The Voices of Refractory is a short survey designed to explore the experiences of women working in the refractory industry: their motivations, challenges, opportunities, and how gender dynamics influence their careers.
It was conducted over a 4-week period between 26 May and 20 June 2025. Insights were collected from both women and men to gain a balanced understanding of the industry’s culture and inclusivity.
The survey attracted 108 participants from 17 countries, reflecting strong engagement across the global refractory community.
Demographics of the Participants
The survey participants represented a diverse and experienced cross-section of the refractory community. Women made up the majority at 73%, with 54% of respondents working in research and development (R&D) roles, the largest functional group in the survey.
Other functions included leadership (10%), commercial (11%), and various support roles (15%), highlighting the wide professional spectrum across the industry. Nearly half (46%) of participants reported over 10 years of experience, underscoring the depth of expertise represented.
Geographically, Europe accounted for 65% of respondents, reflecting the region’s strong engagement in refractory innovation and workforce discussions.
Inclusivity Ratings : Industrial and Workplace inclusivity
Overall, participants rated workplace inclusivity higher than industry inclusivity, with average scores of 7.56 and 5.53, respectively. Across job functions, inclusivity ratings followed a similar trend, showing that most respondents felt more supported within their immediate work environments than in the broader industry.
Differences by gender and region were moderate, with women and European respondents reporting slightly higher perceptions of inclusivity than other groups.
Challenges faced by Women
Respondents identified several challenges that women continue to face in the refractory industry. The most relevant issues reported were gender bias and stereotyping, limited access to leadership or advancement opportunities, and difficulty achieving work-life balance.
Many also pointed to exclusion from informal networks, lack of mentorship, and unwelcoming workplace cultures as ongoing barriers. While pay inequity compared to male peers ranked lower in perceived relevance, this may reflect a lack of visibility or awareness of compensation practices rather than the absence of disparity.
Initiatives in Demand
When asked about potential initiatives to promote gender equality in the refractory sector, respondents strongly favored mentorship programs for women, webinars on career development, and networking or peer support groups. There was also significant support for featuring women from diverse functions and leadership roles, as well as building a dedicated community to foster connection and collaboration. Other ideas, such as competitions promoting women’s participation and seminars on gender equality, were also viewed positively.
Conclusions
The Voices of Refractory survey provided valuable insight into the experiences, challenges, and perceptions of inclusivity within the refractory industry. While results indicate growing awareness and progress in workplace inclusivity, they also highlight persistent gaps in mentorship, visibility, and leadership opportunities for women.
The findings emphasize the need for continued dialogue, transparency, and structured initiatives that foster equity and empowerment. Guided by these insights, Women At Refractories can shape targeted actions that not only support women’s professional growth but also strengthen the overall culture of inclusion across the industry.
Watch the recorded presentation of the survey highlights on our YouTube channel through this link below:
