Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Greenergy, Haldor Topsoe tech turns tires to fuel
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      GRI expanding ag tire capacity at 3-year-old Sri Lanka plant
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
    • NewAge Industries celebrates 15 years of employee ownership
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
    • Safic-Alcan and Arkema working together on distribution deal
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Biesterfeld to supply Denka acrylate rubbers
      Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Adriano Alfani named Versalis CEO
      Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
    • India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Women in Tire & Rubber
August 21, 2020 08:41 AM

Women in Tire & Rubber: Irene Yurovska

Rubber & Plastics News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Profiles of the inaugural class members of Rubber & Plastics News' Women in Tire & Rubber will appear daily through Aug. 21. Edited profiles of the entire class were published in the July 27 issue of RPN.

    Irene Yurovska

    YIGlobal and Himadri Specialty Chemicals

    Location: Texas

    Education: BS in Colloidal Chemistry, MS in Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Ph.D in Physics and Mechanics of Polymers, MBA in International Business and Finance

    Career highlights:

    Sixteen years tenure in academia in the former Soviet Union, 11 years as a rubber chemist and engineer at rubber plants in U.S.; 12 years with Cabot Corp. in technical service, R&D and Application Development in carbon blacks for rubbers; two years at Addivant (SI Group) as a Global Innovation Market Manager in antioxidants for rubbers, three years as a YIGlobal owner/consultant and two years as vice president in carbon black for rubber business for Himadri (India).

    Associations you belong to or actively participate in

    ACS Rubber Division, New England Rubber Group, Energy Polymer Group

    What drew you to the rubber industry, and what has made your career in the industry rewarding?

    I started my career in the rubber industry when I was 17 years old. It was not my choice, but rather a result of national and gender discrimination in the former USSR. However, I never regretted that I became a rubber professional: I met the best people here, got the best training, fulfilled my dreams and raised two children, while working full time. Decades later, I still love the global rubber industry and science.

    What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

    While I have many published papers, patents and know-how, I feel that my biggest achievement was to successfully lead/participate in many R&D and manufacturing projects in Russia and Austria, Israel and Malaysia, China, India and Guatemala. Science and technology are international, and rubber products are needed in all countries. My international cooperation convinced me that people can work together, rather than fight. Technical professionals should lead this trend, not allowing dirty politicians to dominate people's minds

    What do you count as your biggest failure and what has it taught you?

    Through my long career in academia and in industry, with each new job, new boss, new team, I had to fight for my equal rights and prove that females can have the same knowledge, same energy and wit, as their male counterparts do. In fact, frequently, women are more diligent, detail-oriented and persistent. Sometimes, my fight was successful, but many people would leave with the wrong opinion as "she is an exclusion." This fight is still in progress. The failure was my inability to convince the community that women are equal and should be always treated as such.

    Who or what inspires you?

    My inspiration regarding the rubber technology is in the trend that materials, designs and processes change, but the global demand grows, which means a bright future for rubber.

    My social inspiration is in my daughter who successfully manages her challenging career in the field of justice, in my 16-year-old granddaughter who ambitiously thinks that she can reach her best potential, and in my son-in-law whose attitude in gender equality is much more progressive than for males of my generation.

    Who were your career mentors, and what role did they play?

    My first career mentor was Dr. Tutorsky in Moscow who inspired me to study elastomers. My next career mentor in Moscow was Dr. Bukhina, who now in her 90s, still is leading the Editorial Board of the Russian analog of Rubber Chemistry and Technology. My mentors at Cabot were Dr. Steve Reznek and Dr. Kutsovsky, both of whom helped me to understand modern nanotechnology.

    What is the best advice you have ever received?

    From my mother: "Work hard and you will like what you are doing."

    From my mentor: "People who work hard are all always needed."

    If you were CEO of a company, what would you do first?

    I would suggest that each person explains what is his/her career objective for the next 2-5 years, and explain why it is needed for the company and what makes her/him to qualified for the job.

    What would you tell someone considering a career in the rubber industry?

    Think hard, do not take the decision lightly: Rubber is sticky; once entering the field, you will stick here for a long time.

    In your opinion, what needs to be done to encourage females to pursue STEM-related careers?

    The attitude of the gender equality is developed in families and at early education years. It is a cultural issue, and should be approached as such. Regarding the STEM careers: Females who feel equal will choose STEM or any other careers at the same rates as males do. To encourage the progress, females should not be obstructed by managers and male co-workers.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION