Press Releases
Empowering women in biopharma: Advancing quality through diversity
For a CDMO, where quality serves as the foundation for patient safety and regulatory compliance, diverse perspectives are critical to driving innovation and further enhancing operational excellence.
Samsung Biologics is committed to upholding the highest quality standards in operations while fostering a workplace where all employees can thrive. In light of this year’s International Women’s Day, we sat down with Diane Black, Executive Vice President and Head of Quality, to learn about her perspective on the evolving role of women in biopharma to drive quality and the challenges that remain.
Diane Black, Executive Vice President and Head of Quality Center
Progress and challenges
While opportunities in biopharma have grown over the decades, challenges linger. Looking back at her three-decade career, Diane notes that while the proportion of female employees has increased, structural barriers persist, particularly when balancing work and personal responsibilities.
“I would have expected things to change more than they have,” says Diane. “I’ve seen encouraging progress, but there is still more we can do to create opportunities for women. Access to mentorship, leadership development, and technical training programs can help women advance in this field.”
“Encouraging more women to pursue careers in biopharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and quality can bring fresh perspectives that enhance operational excellence,” says Diane. “Diverse leadership teams have shown to drive better decision-making, improve problem-solving, and contribute to a richer workplace culture.”
Samsung Biologics is a strong advocate of professional development initiatives designed to foster a more inclusive workforce. By investing in mentorship programs, leadership training, and courses that promote career growth, the company is working to build a diverse talent pool that strengthens both the organization and broader industry.
Building a quality culture
Ensuring product quality in biologics development and manufacturing requires a sense of collaboration, continuous learning, and trust within teams. Diane highlights the importance of creating an environment where employees feel empowered to voice concerns and contribute to solutions.
“Trust is essential. When people feel supported, they’re more likely to speak up and take initiative,” she says. “A strong quality culture isn’t just about following procedures – it’s about fostering open discussions, refining processes, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to better outcomes.”
At Samsung Biologics, the emphasis on quality extends beyond management and compliance—it’s about continually improving processes to enhance efficiency while pursuing the highest standards. Diane underscores the importance of re-evaluating long-standing procedures to optimize workflows and simplify complex processes.
“We’ve been operating for over a decade, and each inspection has led to additions in our procedures. While these are important, we also need to step back and ask, ‘Do all these steps make sense? Is there a more effective way of doing this?’” she notes.
Another core focus for Diane is strengthening leadership at every level, ensuring employees are motivated and feel supported in their roles. “From associate directors to center heads, we need to train and equip them with the right tools and expertise to effectively guide their teams,” she says. “As important as maintaining high standards is the fostering of a culture where employees feel comfortable enough to raise concerns and seek ways to continuously improve how we work.”
Fostering an inclusive workforce
Building an innovative and passionate workforce goes beyond technical training—it requires leadership development and a culture that values inclusivity. Diane stresses the importance of mentorship and confidence-building programs, particularly for women aspiring to leadership roles.
“One of the biggest hurdles I see is imposter syndrome,” she says. “Many women hesitate to step into leadership roles because they feel they need to meet every requirement perfectly. But careers aren’t always linear—taking risks, learning from different roles, and speaking up are all part of the growth process.”
In that sense, Samsung Biologics continues to invest in training and mentorship to ensure employees feel empowered to take on leadership positions. By fostering a workplace that values trust and inclusivity, the company hopes to help shape the future of biologics development and manufacturing.
Driving positive change
Amid continuous expansion of the biopharmaceutical industry, Samsung Biologics is committed to building a workplace where talent—regardless of gender and age—can thrive and contribute to the industry’s future.
“We can’t change everything overnight, but we can definitely create environments where people are heard, valued, and empowered,” Diane says. “If we focus on that, we can build a stronger, more innovative industry for everyone.”
Related Contents
Life @ Samsung Biologics Inspiring Inclusion for a Better Tomorrow
Samsung BIO Insight Quality mindset ingrained in operations for client excellence
For a CDMO, where quality serves as the foundation for patient safety and regulatory compliance, diverse perspectives are critical to driving innovation and further enhancing operational excellence.
Samsung Biologics is committed to upholding the highest quality standards in operations while fostering a workplace where all employees can thrive. In light of this year’s International Women’s Day, we sat down with Diane Black, Executive Vice President and Head of Quality, to learn about her perspective on the evolving role of women in biopharma to drive quality and the challenges that remain.
Diane Black, Executive Vice President and Head of Quality Center
Progress and challenges
While opportunities in biopharma have grown over the decades, challenges linger. Looking back at her three-decade career, Diane notes that while the proportion of female employees has increased, structural barriers persist, particularly when balancing work and personal responsibilities.
“I would have expected things to change more than they have,” says Diane. “I’ve seen encouraging progress, but there is still more we can do to create opportunities for women. Access to mentorship, leadership development, and technical training programs can help women advance in this field.”
“Encouraging more women to pursue careers in biopharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and quality can bring fresh perspectives that enhance operational excellence,” says Diane. “Diverse leadership teams have shown to drive better decision-making, improve problem-solving, and contribute to a richer workplace culture.”
Samsung Biologics is a strong advocate of professional development initiatives designed to foster a more inclusive workforce. By investing in mentorship programs, leadership training, and courses that promote career growth, the company is working to build a diverse talent pool that strengthens both the organization and broader industry.
Building a quality culture
Ensuring product quality in biologics development and manufacturing requires a sense of collaboration, continuous learning, and trust within teams. Diane highlights the importance of creating an environment where employees feel empowered to voice concerns and contribute to solutions.
“Trust is essential. When people feel supported, they’re more likely to speak up and take initiative,” she says. “A strong quality culture isn’t just about following procedures – it’s about fostering open discussions, refining processes, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to better outcomes.”
At Samsung Biologics, the emphasis on quality extends beyond management and compliance—it’s about continually improving processes to enhance efficiency while pursuing the highest standards. Diane underscores the importance of re-evaluating long-standing procedures to optimize workflows and simplify complex processes.
“We’ve been operating for over a decade, and each inspection has led to additions in our procedures. While these are important, we also need to step back and ask, ‘Do all these steps make sense? Is there a more effective way of doing this?’” she notes.
Another core focus for Diane is strengthening leadership at every level, ensuring employees are motivated and feel supported in their roles. “From associate directors to center heads, we need to train and equip them with the right tools and expertise to effectively guide their teams,” she says. “As important as maintaining high standards is the fostering of a culture where employees feel comfortable enough to raise concerns and seek ways to continuously improve how we work.”
Fostering an inclusive workforce
Building an innovative and passionate workforce goes beyond technical training—it requires leadership development and a culture that values inclusivity. Diane stresses the importance of mentorship and confidence-building programs, particularly for women aspiring to leadership roles.
“One of the biggest hurdles I see is imposter syndrome,” she says. “Many women hesitate to step into leadership roles because they feel they need to meet every requirement perfectly. But careers aren’t always linear—taking risks, learning from different roles, and speaking up are all part of the growth process.”
In that sense, Samsung Biologics continues to invest in training and mentorship to ensure employees feel empowered to take on leadership positions. By fostering a workplace that values trust and inclusivity, the company hopes to help shape the future of biologics development and manufacturing.
Driving positive change
Amid continuous expansion of the biopharmaceutical industry, Samsung Biologics is committed to building a workplace where talent—regardless of gender and age—can thrive and contribute to the industry’s future.
“We can’t change everything overnight, but we can definitely create environments where people are heard, valued, and empowered,” Diane says. “If we focus on that, we can build a stronger, more innovative industry for everyone.”
Related Contents
Life @ Samsung Biologics Inspiring Inclusion for a Better Tomorrow
Samsung BIO Insight Quality mindset ingrained in operations for client excellence