Mary Barra On Leadership, Innovation, And Grit

Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors, today leads one of the world’s largest automakers. But her career at GM began decades earlier, as a GM Institute (Kettering University) co-op student within the Pontiac Motor Division. How did Barra rise through the ranks at GM—and what did it teach her about American business and leadership?

Condoleezza Rice sat down with Barra at GM’s Silicon Valley technology development office for a wide-ranging conversation on Barra’s Only in America journey and the lessons it imparted. Rice and Barra discuss how GM has overcome headwinds in the global auto industry by prioritizing its customers and employee development; the revitalization of Detroit; leadership amid corporate challenges; and how Barra continues to navigate a global brand through a period of heightened geopolitical instability. Throughout, Barra emphasizes the role of continuous innovation and investment in worker training in driving the success of General Motors and American industry.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mary Barra is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors. She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors in 2016 and has served as CEO of GM since 2014. Under Barra’s leadership, GM is innovating and executing with agility to deliver customers vehicles they love. She’s focused on strengthening GM’s ability to provide transformative technologies such as electrification, software, and personal autonomous driving. 

Prior to becoming CEO, Barra served at GM in roles including executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, and as senior vice president, Global Product Development. Barra began her career with GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1985, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1990. 

Barra serves on the Board of Directors of the Business Roundtable, the Walt Disney Company, the Duke University Board of Trustees, and the Detroit Economic Club.