Barra's father, Ray Makela, grew up in northern Minnesotaand earned a Gold Star and a Purple Heart serving in World War II, Barra said. 34 model cars scattered throughout Barras office, including a mini version of one of her favorites, a Chevrolet Corvette C7. 2003 - Plant manager, Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant. She made clear decisions too.. This year, GM introduced the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV, beating rival Tesla in the contest to engineer the first affordable electric car with a range of 200 miles. She had surpassed that mark for the third year in a row. Barra's base salary is $2.1 million. Inside Content [ hide] 1 Who is Mary Barra? Since her humble beginnings, Ms. Barra has climbed to the top of the corporate ladder at GM. Mary Barra started her career with General Motors working as a co-op student before proceeding to get a degree in electrical engineering at General Motors Institute. 0:00 1:50 General Motors CEO Mary Barra took home more than $23 million in total compensation for 2020, about $2 million more than she did in 2019 despite company-wide pay deferrals last year. GM, Barra's pride comes in being a mother herself. [41] However, she left the forum in 2017, following Trump's response to the Charlottesville protests. Barra graduated from the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1985, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. 2004-2008 - Executive director, Vehicle Manufacturing Engineering. To understand who Barra is today and her task at hand, one must look to her first few months in the biggest job of her life. She was elected Chairman of the GM Board of Directors on January 4, 2016, and has served as CEO of GM since January 15, 2014. She is genuine in her inability to choose one,then she finally picksthe 2022 GMCHummer EV pickup because "it's so fun. Website: Biographyscoop.com David Zaslav - Discovery Communications, Inc. Bernhard Hodler - Julius Baer Group, Ltd. Stephen Schwarzman - The Blackstone Group LP. Itrose to 15.5% in the first quarterthis year, but that is still below the 16.3% a year earlier and far from the 17% to 18% it was last decade. She rose to the rank of #2 in 2018. Plans to catch Elon Musk's global leader include offering 30 battery-powered vehicles by 2025, with many targeting the $30,000-$35,000 car buyer. May 12, 2021 Innovation, Leadership When Mary Barra, chair and CEO of General Motors, first saw the company's dress code, she did what she does best: cut through the noise and deliver a solution. Bastian and Barra discussed a range of topics from all-electric ambitions and a more sustainable future, inclusion and building up young women in STEM, to personal reflections on leadership during challenges. In his new novel, Tracy Flick Cant Win, author Tom Perrotta asks: Who is Tracy Flick now? Mary has had an affinity for cars since she was a child. She will give you a good-natured, but firm retort,"Dont write me off;I plan on being here for a while.". Mary was born to parents Eva and Ray Makela in Waterford, Michigan. 0:05 1:06 Mary Barra said she still has moments of anonymity after her first year as General Motors CEO, but admitted her life has substantially changed, comments she made in a wide-ranging. "Ive always tried to make sure, when my kids were home, that I was home for dinner, even if that meant I was going to work later or if dinner was at 8:30 because they were coming home from their sporting practices at that time," Barra said. GM developed the BrightDrop Zevo 600 commercial delivery van in just 20 months. John Fettermans Net Worth: How Rich is Pennsylvania's Senator? Forbes ranked her the 35th Most Powerful Woman in the World in 2013. More: Mary Barra ready to prove GM stock is as valuable as Tesla. General Motors came under harsh criticism on Capitol Hill Tuesday as CEO Mary Barra went before members of Congress investigating a botched GM recall. Born: Mary Teresa Makela, December 24, 1961, Royal Oak, Michigan, US Finnish: Barra's parents are of Finnish descent. Ana Gasteyer, the "Saturday Night Live . For change to happen across all of GM, Barra must have the support of the UAW International and the hourly workforce. Mary Barra's house (Former) Northville, Michigan (MI), US Like Tweet Share Pin Mary Barra is an American business executive. Every now and then, I take the book out and I reread them., The lessons that resonate most, she said, arethe power of the team and"what people will do if they understand what you want to do and you empower them. And GM has said Ultium will allow it to build a variety of EVsmore cheaply, which Barra said is crucial to GM succeeding as an EV player. And with that, Mary fadesand Barra the CEO is back,ready to powerwalk GM's R&Dhalls to keep everyone on schedule. elects Barra as the chair, the first woman to serve in this role. ", More: GM just became only automaker with board of directors that's majority women. No one thought those passed-over stars would stay, but they did.. Mary Barra, General Motors' chief executive officer, has been accused of racism by leaders of several Black-owned media companies, including Bryon Allen and Ice Cube. Barra, who also serves as the chair of GM, had a salary of $2 million in 2020 . Barra officially takes the position on January 15, 2014. Share what youre thinking.' "So that in a way was somewhat barrier breaking," Henige said, adding that Barra also championed other GM femaleexecutives. Shemarried Tony Barrajust after graduatingfrom college. Her leadership has been credited with saving GM from "catastrophe" during . [3] They live in Northville, a suburb of Detroit. Read the case below and answer the questions on the right. CNN Here's a look at the life of Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors. Mary and Tony have two children and two dogs and live in Northville, Detroit. I get to drive this home.". Applying this knowledge should enable you to have a better understanding of how Mary Barra has led General Motors through serious challenges to profitability. Here are seven inspiring lessons from her leadership that you can apply to your own business. She has been credited withcreatingamore nimble, less bureaucratic company that's better positioned tocompetewithEVstartups. When it comes to Mary Barra's education, she stayed true to her Motor City roots. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. 2013 - Is appointed executive vice president for Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. People love reading success stories like Mary Barra's because they are inspiring. Since she took the helm, the company'smarket share has declined by 3.2 percentage points, according to data from Cox Automotive. She was plant manager of Detroit Hamtramck Assembly plant in 2003, now called Factory Zero. It resulted in 124 deaths. ON THE WALL of General Motors CEO "Its image-shaping machine is working superbly, GMs not so much., ButBarra does not get enough credit for herdecision to investin Cruise ofwhich GM now owns an 80% stakeand makeGM a leading player in self-driving technology,Whiston said. $500 million Amount GM invested in the ride-sharing service Lyft earlier this year. May 12, 2022. We will listen and engage in conversations that elevate our collective understanding and inform our actions to address inequality. Barra was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in February 2018. Along with her team, they have reinvented GM.". [3] In August 2013, her vice president responsibility was extended to include Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Mary Barra Biography. What Barra was trying to do in that August J.P. Morgan presentation was lay out how quickly, radically, and effectively GM has put in place the plan it started hatching at the end of 2014. She wants to continue to create a corporateculture where GM employees can find a work-life balance like she did. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-gm-ceo-mary-barra-1461601044. She's always articulate untilyou ask what her favorite vehicle is in GM's lineup. Lizzy Caplan Bio, Age, Husband, Net Worth, Inside Job, Castle Rock, Movies, Tisha Campbell Bio, Age, Husband, Children, Uncoupled, Net, Movies, Cassi Davis Bio, Age, Family, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Movies, TV Shows. 2009-2011 - Vice president, Global Human Resources. There have been some other missteps on the path to electrification. Bill Pugliano/Getty. As the CEO you work for your board and you work for your shareholders, but youre the one whos living it 24/7. In August, she will be the longest-standing GM CEO since the legendary Alfred Sloan vacated the job in 1946, when he. Individual results will always vary and yours will depend entirely on your individual capacity, work ethic, business skills and experience, level of motivation, diligence in applying the Capitalism Programs, the economy, the normal and unforeseen risks of doing business, and other factors. Itisseared into Henige'smemory. Mary and Tony have two children and two dogs and live in Northville, Detroit. [18] Barra and General Motors also came under suspicion of paying for awards to burnish the CEO and corporation's image during that time. (Video:. Ray was a die-maker at GM for 39 years. [19] The recalls led to the creation of new policies encouraging workers to report problems they encounter in an attempt to change company culture. Part of the reinvention included making boldmoves, said Morningstar Auto Analyst David Whiston, noting Barra'scontroversialdecision to sellGM's German Opel and United Kingdom Vauxhall brandsin 2017. Mary Barra remains in the top 20 of the highest-paid CEOs in America. Her mother and father, powerful influences, died in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Mary said, "We believe that everyone has the responsibility to speak up in the presence of bias and injustice in our world. The newswas highly guarded. Hugh Hefner's Net Worth: How Rich Was the Playboy Founder in His Old Age? Mary Barra General Motors Chair & CEO speaks with Yahoo Finance Editor-In-Chief Andy Serwer at the 2022 Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: New Challenges, New Opportunities. She was poor as a child so young Mary'sand Paul's cousinsknew the drill when it came toconversations with "Aunt Eva. But I was told, 'The 14th floor likes him, so put up with him or leave.' Twitter: @BiographyScoop [21], In 2017, Barra was the highest paid Detroit Three executive, with a total remuneration of $21.96 million. To help get there, shecreatedthe Inclusion Advisory Board, then later launched Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Barra has said the family also owns a Corvette and a Hummer EV. Change under Barra isevidentto longtime GM insiders such as U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell,D-Dearborn, who said GM's transformation started the day it chosea woman as CEO. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. In 1985, Barra received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the General Motors Institute. Mary Barra power walks down a long corridor in the Research and Development building at General Motors' Global Technical Center in Warren. But Lutz said he sees challenges with GM's speed, the same issue that worries Barra. Copyright 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This story has been updated to stateBarra's first job was at the Pontiac Motor Division in Pontiac and to clarify that Cruise is the first company to have a self-driving taxi in a major city. These days, Mary drives a Cadillac Escalade around town. In 1990, she earned an MBAfrom the Stanford Graduate School of Business. US President Joe Biden was at the inauguration of GM's Factory Zero yesterday, the company's first electric vehicle factory, and he gave a speech in which he gave credit to GM CEO Mary Barra. Barra saidshe was "not the obvious choice" forplant manager atDetroit-Hamtramck, "but they gave me an opportunity. In December 2013, GM named her to succeed Daniel Akerson as CEO. As CEO, Barra oversaw GMs journey into autonomous and electric vehicles, including the acquisition of Strobe, a driverless technology startup. Barra will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2022. She held several different positions, from General Director of Internal Communications to Plant Manager. Email: At 18, she started working for GM as a way to help pay for her college tuition. That's precisely what General Motors CEO Mary Barra is doing, and it's quite respectable. "Don't be content working around the edges of your profession," she told the students. "I do it.. She said thatbreed is hypoallergenic. Barra said the transition to electric vehicles is now inevitable. General Motors CEO Mary Barra took home $40.3 million in 2020, according to a new study conducted by Automotive News. Shefirst met Barra in the 1990s whenBarra was director of internal communications. Barra recently revealed in an interview that's she's currently driving a recalled Chevrolet Bolt EV.. Jo Koy's Net Worth: How Much Does the Stand-Up Comedian and Actor Make? Barra fired several employees and, in April 2014, she started the "Speak up for Safety" program at GM, to rid the automaker of a "don't tell" culture and encourage employees to report vehicle safety concerns. As Barra leads GM into a future of electric cars, one of the top Mary Barra quotes is her motto: "Zero crashes. Raised in Waterford, Michigan, a feeder town for GM, Barra began working for the company at 18. They had three children, including a boy named Reino, who was known as Ray, and they lived in Mountain Iron, Minnesota. It's a rainy day in early May and Barra's on her way. Marys total compensation for the year was $40.3 million in 2020. As a longtime veteran of GM, Barrawho at 54 is the first woman to run a Big 3 automakerrecognized the flaws in the company's corporate culture. So with all that speed, how did that happen?. I think we looked over the horizon to see there was technology-enabling-change and we wanted to lead it. Hehasbeen an accessible, openbook when it comes to talking about his life, includinghis famous cousin, the late comedian Chris Farley. If Mary can do it, nothing's stopping you from doing it, too. [44], In Institutional Investor's yearly survey of top executives, the 2019 All-America Executive Team, Barra achieved the first place in the autos and auto parts sector. Education: General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), electrical engineering, 1985; Stanford, M.B.A, 1990. She earned that job," Henige said. "I remember very vividly," she said. "I think the women at GM looked up to her becauseof how her career would go, but to her it wasnt a big deal," Henige said. 2023www.freep.com. More:Ana Gasteyer says her CEO character on 'American Auto' is no Mary Barra. While at Kettering University, Barra was inducted into the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi and the IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu honor society. "Or, 'Have a point of view, Mary. As of January, women comprised just under 25% of the entire auto industry workforce, down twopercentage points from 2018, said Jason Miller, associate professor of logistics at Michigan State University. "What we talk about at General Motors is, 'Looking over the horizon.' Barrawho at 54 is the first woman to run a Big 3 automakerrecognized the flaws in the companys corporate culture. [23] Her decision was criticized by President Donald Trump, who threatened to remove the company's government subsidies in response. But it hit the rest of the world. [6][7] Her grandfather, Viktor Mkel, moved to the US and married Maria Luoma, a Finnish immigrant from Teuva. We meet on a regular basis and we know how to connect with each other any time if necessary. She also has a downtown Detroit apartment. That year, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World issue. "To change the stories, it had to change the behavior so people experience something different. "Ill always answer the phone, but I get so many emails, I cant have every email alert or Id go crazy," Barra said. So It Redesigned Its Iconic Can. ". Henige and her team heard it for the first time with the rest of the world. There's been no public talk ofa succession plan if Barra were to leave her job. In those days, I went to a manager and said, This guy is stalking me. People I worked with tried to make sure I wasnt alone. Toyota outsold GM againin the first quarterthis year. Mary's heritage can be traced well back to Finland. 10 years old Age at which Barra first fell in love with a car: a red Chevy Camaro convertible. The job that she is doing for shareholders is good.". "Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team" by John U. Bacon. To avoid that happening again, GM plans tobuild every part of its EVs, including the battery cells and manufacturing of the battery packs, onitsUltium platform. Mandi is an experienced writer on various topics with a passion for telling stories with words. Mary became the CEO of GM in 2014, making her the first female CEO of a major international automaker. It was her second time on the list. "She recognized the human and the humane aspects of it.". Explore Mary Barra's Bio-Wiki, net worth & salary in 2023. [45], Barra was selected for the inaugural 2021 Forbes 50 Over 50; made up of entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists and creators who are over the age of 50. She graduated from Kettering (then called General Motors Institute) in1985 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and started full-time at the company. To date, GM has paid more than $900 million in penalties and nearly $600 million to settle death and injury suits, though critics have argued the company still hasnt been held fully accountable. It fell to a low of 13.2% in the fourth quarter last year. This massage technique is attracting fans across Hollywood, including Ariana Grande, Kourtney Kardashian and Sean Diddy Combs. Within threehours, Mary Barra was trending globally.". She added Chairman of the Board to her title only two years later. [42][43] In September 2018, Barra was awarded the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute's Legend in Leadership Award. More: GM partners with The Moth to bring live storytelling to its employees. The two went out to dinner to celebrate alone since the news would not be given to the rest of the world for a few days. In the end,GM closed three factories. We benefited from the senior leadership team debating it, testing it and bringing their experiences. That's why we're here - to help you build a successful business that creates freedom and great wealth for you and your family. Zero congestion.". Barra's leadership was instrumental to GM's renewed success because she was transparent, gave people a voice, and lived out her values. "General Motors' decline in market share is significant, but CEO Mary Barra has made clear her focus ison profitability, not volume or market share," said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Cox Automotive. But ask me that in two months and it might be the (Cadillac) Lyriq.". As for being called a visionary, Barra says, I think thats a big title," then she credits others. They were blessed with two children named Nicholas Barra and Rachel Barra. General Motors CEO Mary Barra is rethinking how to manage the 216,000-employee strong auto company, and she's starting with her own . Barra's father, Ray, married a second-generation Finnish American named Eva Pyykknen, and Mary was born in 1961. It can be a catalyst for going out there and creating the life you want. Barra is the Roundtable's chair for 2022, a role which will require her to make public statements about major public policy issues which affect businesses. It was the third consecutive year she topped that figure. CBS News Barra started at GM 35 years ago as an 18-year-old intern,. "It was at the end of 2014 and early 2015. She gave me an A.". [3][4][5] In December 2013, GM named her to succeed Daniel Akerson as CEO. Barra, who stands 5 feet, 5 inches,is a lot of things people don't expect once she lets down her guard. That begins with my sincere apologies to everyone who has been affected by this recall, especially the families and friends (of those) who lost their lives or were injured. Updated I'm happy to be joined here at our headquarters in downtown Washington by Mary Barra, the chief executive of General Motors, one of the most prominent executives in America. Of course, that's not the only car in Barra's family. GMis on schedule to sell 30 new EVs globally by 2025, including the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq SUV. 2011-2013 - Senior vice president of Global Product Development. 39 Number of years Barras father, Ray Makela, a member of the United Automobile Workers union, worked as a die maker at GMs Pontiac factory. They lived in Mountain Iron, Minnesota and had three children, including a son named Reino,[8] called Ray. We provide entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to create successful businesses and build lasting, life-changing wealth. Sheis allergic to dogs, yet has two pups, and she often reads several books at a time. All rights reserved. GM is also investing in the ride-sharing economy and in self-driving vehiclesit plans to have a fleet of autonomous vehicles operating on its own campus by the end of the year. "She didnt care what you studied, she just believed that was a gateway to a better life.". They never sawher become CEO. President Donald Trump slammed her decision, threatening to slash the companys federal subsidies as a result. My grandmother Mary MacNeil was born on Barra and I've visited with her many times as a child. Ana Gasteyer says her CEO character on 'American Auto' is no Mary Barra, won approval Thursday to launcha commercial fleet, Time Magazine called her "an agent of change", GM just became only automaker with board of directors that's majority women, He uncovered GM crisis, took on automaker when NHTSA didn't, started the "Speak up for Safety" program at GM, GM pilots an initiative to allow some factory employees to work remote, GM partners with The Moth to bring live storytelling to its employees, Mary Barra ready to prove GM stock is as valuable as Tesla, Barra said GM wouldshut downfourU.S. factories, GM Silverado EV, Ford Lightning buyers might toss brand loyalty to get electric pickup, GM CEO Mary Barra to be inducted into a leading women's hall of fame, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. GM CEO Mary Barra meets with reporters in the same month she took the top job; She says her leadership team is %22perfectly aligned%22; Being a woman doesn%27t drive her thinking when she comes . Mary Barra: Five Lessons from the Kitchen Table. Knowledge at Wharton Staff. Here's the top 10 list of the highest-paid CEOs worldwide: Barra is one of the 20 highest-paid CEOs in America. [24], Barra was a member of the General Dynamics board of directors. Barrawas the first female GM executive thatHenige sawwho was pregnant. Inhindsight, especially with the war in Ukraine, Whiston calls it "a good move," noting that Europe is "such a crowded mass market" that GM was not likely to sell a big numberof cars there. [23], In a June 2022 question about reinstating dividends at GM, Barra said the company has a "clear priority" to "accelerate our EV plans" and to solely offer EVs by 2035. Barra had about 100 followers on Twitter at the time, Henige said. When it comes to General Motors, you might say that CEO Mary Barra is ride or die. People sent me notes congratulating me for working at a company that has a woman CEO.. The UAWdeclared that move,"a slap in the face.". 'You had blindsided him,' Dingell said she told Barra. Mary Barra is the first female CEO of General Motors-in fact, the first female CEO of any major auto manufacturing company. ", It would be an understatement to describe Barra's job as merely "big.". Nick Carter's Net Worth: How Much Money Does This Backstreet Boy Make Now? More: GM CEO Mary Barra to be inducted into a leading women's hall of fame. [22] In November 2018, Barra announced the closure of five North American plants and 14,000 worker lay offs. Mary Barra's Net Worth: Everything You Want to Know about the Highest Paid Auto CEO on the Planet. Mary T. Barra, incumbent CEO at General Motors, started her career at GM in 1980. Barra went on to earn a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. The beautiful couple met during their university days at Kettering University. At Capitalism.com, were ALL IN on entrepreneurs. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Last year, Toyota Motor North America stole the U.S.sales crown from GMafter GM held it for decades. As a result of the recalls, new procedures were created urging employees to report any concerns they observe in an attempt to transform the business culture. Then GM had a series of short-lived CEOs before Barra got the job. Barra has received several awards and honors, including: Featured on the cover of Time's "100 Most Influential People in the World.". Her daughter still has the power to veto an outfit Barra selects and she encourages Barra to try new styles. It hasprioritized electric and autonomous technology development in its capital investments, sayingit will spend $35 billion through2025 to develop the technology. Sponsored by General Motors, she received her MBA from Stanford University. General Motors Co. Chief Executive Mary Barra has been appointed the next chairman of the Business Roundtable, a trade group representing U.S. business interests in Washington, D.C. On Jan. 1, Ms .