GM's new chief travels far on love for cars
Childhood passion stays with Mary Barra, who encourages collaborative style of leadership
As she rose from intern to the carmaker's global product development chief, Barra (pictured) worked at some point in nearly every aspect of the business, even heading GM's human resources department. When she starts her new job on January 15, she will be arguably the most powerful female executive in America, joining a group of just 23 women currently heading Fortune 500 companies. She is the first woman to head a major carmaker.
As her name surfaced as a possible successor to outgoing chief executive Dan Akerson, the Los Angeles Times sat down with Barra at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year and asked her about the industry and the way she runs things.
Collaborative. When we have to make tough decisions, giving direction and setting the strategies for the products of General Motors, there should be constructive tension. We should have vigorous debates.
I try to create an environment where people feel they can voice their concerns, and where we can get the best ideas on the table and then make the right decision. But at the end of the day, the decision has to be made. If we don't have complete unanimity, I have no qualms about making it. But I want that tension in a constructive way to make sure we evaluate things from every angle.