Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance
Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History
Luxembourg Centre for European Law
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems
On 28 October 2025, ArcelorMittal Steligence, in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg, hosted the Women Rising Day as part of the “Women Rising” initiative of the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU). The event aims to encourage women in the construction and engineering sectors and to foster a culture where diversity drives innovation and excellence.
Around 35 participants gathered on campus Kirchberg for a day of inspiration, exchange, and honest discussion about the role of women in the building industry. The event began with a networking session that encouraged conversation and exchange, giving participants the chance to connect with peers and learn directly from the guest speakers. The panel brought together four professionals who each offered unique perspectives shaped by their own experiences in the field.
Tatiana Fabeck, architect and founder of FABECKARCHITECTES, opened the session by sharing insights from her journey of establishing an independent practice and the perseverance required to succeed in a competitive environment.
Marion Charlier, Central Engineering Lead at ArcelorMittal Steligence and member of the CVU Europe Scientific and Advisory Group, shared insights into the evolution of her career — from her roles within ArcelorMittal to her involvement in standardization and the completion of her PhD alongside her professional responsibilities. As she retraced the key steps of her journey, she shared important messages and reflected on gender diversity within the different teams she has worked in.
‟ We need to encourage more young women to study civil engineering and inspire them to see themselves playing an active role in this field. I’ve seen some positive actions in that direction, and I truly hope they continue and become even stronger”
Central Engineering Lead, ArcelorMittal
Anne-Marie Solvi, Managing Director at Paul Wurth Geprolux, highlighted the impact of inclusion on project success, observing that “mixed-gender teams can handle conflicts better and recover faster from setbacks.”
Finally, Faiza Benyahia, Head of Department at Schroeder & Associés, shared stories from her career journey that led her to her current position, mixing valuable reflections with humor about her experiences in different work environments.
Following the presentations, Teodora Bogdan, Research Scientist at the University of Luxembourg led a participatory workshop centered around a concrete guiding question: “What is one small, specific step to strengthen the position of women in the construction sector?” The discussion expanded to consider the broader position of women in the building industry, exploring challenges and opportunities, developments over recent years and projections for the future. Participants also reflected on ongoing changes within the construction sector itself and highlighted mentoring as a crucial element of career development for women. One participant captured the spirit of the discussion perfectly, stating: “Responsibility is not something you should be afraid of. You should just put yourself out there and start.”
At the workshop’s conclusion, participants formulated concrete approaches to make construction professions more accessible to women. Key recommendations included leading by example, inspiring young people and maximizing the unique qualities of each individual to create synergy effects that benefit teams and projects alike. After the workshop, participants had the opportunity to visit the construction site of the new ArcelorMittal headquarter in Luxembourg.
‟ Be confident and proactive: seize every opportunity, believe in your abilities, and above all, trust yourself.”
Managing Director, Paul Wurth Geprolux
Throughout the event, the atmosphere remained open, inclusive, and supportive, encouraging genuine dialogue between students and speakers. The discussions not only reinforced the importance of diversity in shaping resilient and innovative teams but also created a sense of community and shared purpose among participants.
The Women Rising Day 2025 succeeded in creating a meaningful space for support, visibility, and empowerment. A reminder that progress in the construction industry depends not only on technical expertise, but also on inclusion, courage and mutual respect.
