How Mary Barra managed to lead General Motors out of crisis
Mary Barra is the first female leader of an automotive company. She is the CEO of General Motors. Her example breaks down stereotypes about gender roles that still exist in society. She has demonstrated that professionalism, rather than gender, is crucial for success.
Barra was born in Michigan in 1960. Her father was a mechanic at a General Motors plant. He instilled in his daughter an interest in technology that would become a key component of her professional career. In 1982, she earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. Eight years later, she received her MBA from the same university.
Mary joined General Motors in 1980 as an intern. She tried her hand at various fields, including engineering and management.
The year 2009 was an important milestone for the corporation. GM suffered serious financial losses and declared bankruptcy. The company began a large-scale reorganization, marking the beginning of Barra’s success.
Achievements in office
Barra took over as CEO of the corporation in 2013. She became the first female leader not only at GM but also in the entire automotive industry. Barra joined the company during a difficult period, when it was just recovering from the crash. She proposed a new development strategy focusing on electric vehicles and autonomous systems.
Her approaches proved effective:
1. Five years after filing for bankruptcy, the company achieved financial stability.
2. Retail sales grew, which was one of the business’s key goals.
3. The average transaction value increased by US$2,000 per year.
4. GM’s credit rating reached investment grade, making it easier for the company to obtain loans.
5. The corporation achieved record sales in China.
6. In 2013, Chevrolet reached its peak sales of five million units.
Mary Barra’s strategy
Mary uses the principles of sustainable development as the foundation for long-term activities. To this end, she developed a series of steps that the company is systematically implementing. One of these steps is expanding electric vehicle production. General Motors plans to exclusively produce electric cars by 2035. Additionally, the company has strengthened its focus on vehicle safety. Following a series of disasters caused by manufacturing defects, GM changed its approach to testing and inspection. As a result, the corporation has regained consumer confidence.
Regarding internal business policy, Mary Barra advocates for greater inclusion and support of employees’ professional growth. Additionally, Barra funds the nonprofit organization Girls Who Code. Its goal is to provide girls in school with the opportunity to study computer science in depth.
