Mary Barra

Mary T. Barra

Personal details
Born	December 24, 1961 (age 63) Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.
Education	Kettering University (BS) Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA)
Career details
Title	Chairman and CEO of General Motors
Term	January 15, 2014 – present
Compensation	$29.1 million (2022)

General Motors logo

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 (GM) since January 15, 2014. She is the first female CEO of a major global automaker and the first woman to lead a U.S. automobile manufacturer.

Under Barra's leadership, General Motors has undergone a significant transformation, pivoting toward electric vehicles, autonomous driving technology, and sustainable transportation. She has been named one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes multiple times and is widely recognized as one of the most influential business leaders of the 21st century.

Early life and education

Mary Teresa Makela was born on December 24, 1961, in Royal Oak, Michigan, to Eva Mäkelä (née Pyykkönen), a Finnish immigrant, and Ray Makela, a die maker at General Motors' Pontiac division for 39 years. She grew up in Waterford, Michigan, in a family deeply connected to the American auto industry.

Barra began working at GM at age 18, inspecting fender panels and inspecting hoods at the Pontiac Motor Division plant to help pay for college. She graduated from Waterford Mott High School in 1980.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1985. GM sponsored her to attend Stanford Graduate School of Business as a GM Fellow, where she earned her Master of Business Administration degree in 1990.

Career at General Motors

Early career (1980–2008)

Barra started working at GM at age 18 as a co-op student in 1980. After earning her bachelor's degree, she held various engineering and administrative positions:

• Manufacturing engineer
• General director of internal communications
• Plant manager of Detroit Hamtramck Assembly
• Executive assistant to the vice president, Global Manufacturing Engineering
• Vice president, Global Manufacturing Engineering (2008)
• Vice president, Global Human Resources (2009)

Senior leadership (2009–2013)

In 2011, Barra was named executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing & Supply Chain, a critical role that put her in charge of the design, engineering, and quality of GM's vehicles globally. In this role, she oversaw 33,000 employees and the development of vehicles across all GM brands worldwide.

Her product development leadership coincided with GM's post-bankruptcy resurgence and the launch of highly successful vehicles including the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac ATS, and redesigned Chevrolet Silverado.

CEO (2014–present)

On December 10, 2013, GM announced that Barra would become the next CEO of the company on January 15, 2014, succeeding Dan Akerson. At the time of her appointment, she became the first female CEO of a major global automaker. In January 2016, she also became chair of the GM board of directors.

Major achievements and initiatives:

Ignition switch crisis

Within weeks of becoming CEO, Barra faced a major crisis when GM recalled 2.6 million vehicles due to faulty ignition switches linked to at least 124 deaths. She testified before Congress, apologized publicly, established a victim compensation fund, and implemented sweeping cultural and safety reforms at GM. Her handling of the crisis, while criticized by some, was praised for transparency and accountability.

Electric vehicle transformation

Under Barra's leadership, GM has committed to an all-electric future:

• Announced plan to phase out gas and diesel vehicles by 2035
• Invested $35+ billion in electric and autonomous vehicles through 2025
• Launched Ultium battery platform for next-generation EVs
• Introduced Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV
• Announced electric versions of Silverado, Equinox, Blazer, and Hummer
• Partnered with Honda on electric vehicles
• Revived GMC Hummer as all-electric brand

Autonomous vehicles

• Acquired Cruise Automation (2016) for self-driving technology
• Invested billions in autonomous vehicle development
• Launched Origin, purpose-built autonomous vehicle
• Tested autonomous taxis in San Francisco

Restructuring and profitability

• Exited unprofitable markets (Europe, Russia, South Africa, India)
• Discontinued Holden brand in Australia
• Sold Opel/Vauxhall to PSA Group
• Closed underutilized plants in North America
• Achieved record profit margins in North America

Financial performance

• Improved profit margins significantly
• Stock buybacks and dividends increased shareholder value
• Navigated chip shortage and COVID-19 pandemic successfully
• Revenue grew from $155.9 billion (2014) to $171.8 billion (2023)

Compensation and recognition

Compensation

According to GM's proxy statements, Barra's recent compensation has been:

• 2022: $29.1 million
• 2021: $29.6 million
• 2020: $23.7 million

Her compensation includes base salary ($2.1 million), annual incentive bonuses, long-term stock awards, and other benefits.

Awards and recognition

• Forbes "World's Most Powerful Women" - consistently ranked, #6 in 2022
• Fortune "Businessperson of the Year" (2021)
• Named to Time 100 Most Influential People (2014, 2021)
• Inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame (2022)
• Awarded honorary doctorates from Yale University, Duke University, and Stanford University
• First woman to chair Global Business Conference (2019)

Board memberships and affiliations

• General Motors Board of Directors (Chair, 2016–present)
• The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors (2021–present)
• Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council
• Detroit Economic Club
• Business Roundtable

Personal life

Barra is married to Tony Barra, a consultant whom she met while attending Kettering University. They have two adult children and reside in Northville, Michigan.

She is an avid runner and has participated in numerous marathons. Barra maintains a relatively low public profile outside of her professional responsibilities.

Leadership philosophy

Barra's leadership is characterized by:

• Transparency and accountability: Demonstrated during ignition switch crisis
• Long-term vision: Willing to make unpopular short-term decisions for long-term benefit
• Cultural transformation: Changed GM's culture from bureaucratic to entrepreneurial
• Zero defects: Emphasis on quality and safety
• Customer focus: "Customer is the true north"
• Diversity and inclusion: Promoted women and minorities to leadership positions

Her management approach emphasizes:

• "Zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion" vision for future of transportation
• Empowering teams to make decisions
• Flattening organizational hierarchy
• Encouraging risk-taking and innovation
• "Doing the right thing"

Challenges and controversies

Ignition switch recalls

The massive safety recall early in her tenure resulted in Congressional testimony, criminal investigations, and over 100 deaths attributed to the defect. While Barra's transparent response was praised, critics argued GM should have acted sooner.

Plant closures and job cuts

Barra's decision to close several North American plants and cut approximately 14,000 jobs in 2018-2019 drew criticism from labor unions, politicians, and President Trump.

Cruise autonomous vehicle incidents

GM's Cruise division faced scrutiny after several accidents involving autonomous vehicles, including a 2023 incident in San Francisco that led to suspension of operations.

Impact and legacy

Mary Barra's leadership has fundamentally transformed GM from a traditional automaker into a technology and mobility company. Her commitment to electric vehicles has positioned GM as a leader in the automotive industry's transition away from internal combustion engines.

As the first woman to lead a major automaker, Barra has broken significant barriers and serves as a role model for women in business and engineering. Her handling of the ignition switch crisis demonstrated crisis management and accountability in corporate leadership.

Barra's vision of "zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion" represents an ambitious reimagining of personal transportation and GM's role in shaping that future.

See also

• General Motors
• Satya Nadella
• Tim Cook
• Sundar Pichai
• Andy Jassy

External links

• Official GM Biography
• GM Media Newsroom
• @mtbarra on Twitter
• marytbarra on LinkedIn