The saying “big shoes to fill” takes on a different weight when it’s not just about the person, but the legacy they’ve built on the page. Karen Langhauser’s voice in this column marked a before and after for our publication.
When she took the helm over a decade ago, the publication was already solid, but Karen wasn’t interested in solid. She was interested in excellence, constantly elevating both the magazine and the industry conversations we sparked.
Karen’s influence on me — and on all of us — was less about what she said and more about how she worked. A self-described perfectionist, “good enough” was never part of the equation.
Every idea, every angle, every word was an opportunity to go further. Under her guidance, I learned that innovation and excellence aren’t just about big moments or breakthroughs. It’s often the smaller, sharper improvements that change the game.
That spirit is at the heart of this year’s Pharma Innovation Awards. The products and technologies we’re recognizing aren’t just impressive, they’re essential.
These innovations might not make headlines on their own, but they’re the gears quietly driving the industry forward. These tools represent the kind of smart, incremental progress that moves the needle in ways that matter.
These awards are an opportunity to celebrate the technologies that enhance product quality, reduce risks, and boost manufacturing efficiency in pharma. At Pharma Manufacturing, we honor the vendors whose innovation drives lifesaving medicines and sets them apart as industry leaders.
And when you take a look at our Global Dose profile on Pittsburgh, it’s clear — real innovation doesn’t happen by accident.
Pittsburgh has methodically expanded itself from a steel powerhouse to a growing life sciences hub, building on its manufacturing legacy to bet on a new economy.
Pittsburgh’s reinvention is proof that when you build on what’s strong, you create space for something even greater.
In a similar sentiment, filling Karen’s shoes isn’t the goal, but continuing to build on the foundation she laid, is. And like this year’s innovators, the intention will continue to be to go above and beyond what’s expected, finding the real value in pushing limits past what was thought possible.
