Mary Barra
Mary Teresa Barra (née Makela; born December 24, 1961) is an American businesswoman who has been the chair and chief executive officer (CEO) of General Motors since January 15, 2014. She is the first female CEO of a 'Big Three' automaker. In December 2013, GM named her to succeed Daniel Akerson as CEO. Prior to being named CEO, Barra was executive vice president of global product development, purchasing, and supply chain.
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Quotes
[edit]- Barra said she serves at the pleasure of the Board of the Directors, but went on to describe the current situation of General Motors as “such an exciting time.” She remarked that the next few years will be the opportunity “to really execute this new strategy” with GM’s product line electrification and other initiatives, “so I’m energized.”
- Mary Barra said,(GM Authority ,Dec 18 2023 )
- First of all, I need clarity, and then I need consistency
- I need to understand what the policy is
- Everything can be moved over time, but we also have to do it effectively, and we have to do it in a manner where we’re still competitive globally
- I think there’s been a lot of effort to really understand our industry — and for us to understand what they’re trying to achieve,From that perspective, she says, “We’re very much aligned
- Our message is making sure they understand what the auto industry is [and] how it operates, so we can be competitive and not be put at a disadvantage to our foreign competitors
- Component to component, technology to technology… I would say we stack up quite well,Barra says. “I definitely believe that the US can still win
- what we’re spending money on is really going to lead to our longer-term vision
- is to really be challenging the whole organization to be efficient,” she says. “And that’s always a great message
- giving that customer choice is what will lead to our success
- You have to have the best talent,” she says, and “you can’t afford to get it wrong
- We have an opportunity and frankly a responsibility to create a better future
- It's easy to live your values and have a corporate mission statement when everything's going well, but when you're really challenged, that's when people really take notice
- We also said, look, we're going to do everything in our power to help our customers through this period. We're going to be transparent, and then we're going to do everything possible to make sure something like this never happens again
- We've got to continue to have affordable vehicles that people want to own and drive that are beautifully designed, and the charging infrastructure needs to continue to improve
- We're going to be flexible based on where the customer is and really be driven by the customer
- The other thing I always say to people is, when's the best time to solve a problem? And they kind of look at me perplexed," she says. "It's the minute you know you have one, because problems rarely get smaller
- Acting with integrity. As a leader, I instill the importance of always acting with integrity. To me, this means being driven by ingenuity and innovation, having the courage to do and say what’s difficult, and taking accountability for results. I would also say never taking our eyes off the customer and keeping them at the center of everything we do
- GSB helped me cultivate a learning mindset, which is something that resonates with me to this day
- From a very early age, it sparked an interest in GM and engineering. My father and I have over 80 years with the company, so my love of vehicles and GM runs deep
- I strongly believe behaviors set your culture — and that’s not something you can fake
- When I became CEO, the company faced the ignition switch crisis. It was a tragic time, with many lives lost. We had to address it by accepting full responsibility, being accountable, and prioritizing the safety of our customers first and foremost. Managing this crisis was incredibly challenging and taught me a lot about leadership and culture
- Mary Barra,23 August 2024
- Don’t rent your job—own it
- Owning your job means showing up every day like you’ll be doing it for the rest of your life. That’s when you truly own the outcome
- When you commit fully to your role, you unlock opportunities, make meaningful changes, and build the network you need to be most effective
- Building a career is more than a few temporary stops; it’s a long-term journey. Own your job and watch how it enables you to accomplish more than you ever imagined
- GM CEO Mary Barra Says You Should Own Your Job, Not Rent It,10 September 2025
