Mary Barra became the first female CEO of a major automaker in January 2014 when she was named CEO of General Motors. Barra grew up outside of Detroit as the daughter of a die maker at a Pontiac plant. She has extensive experience at GM, having worked on the assembly line after graduating from Kettering University and holding several leadership roles including head of manufacturing and head of human resources. As CEO, Barra focuses on listening to plant employees, encouraging creativity and transparency. Her appointment signals a cultural shift away from short-term thinking at GM that she believes held the company back.
2. The daughter of a die maker at a Pontiac plant who grew up in the
suburbs of Detroit is now the first woman to become CEO of one of
the Big Three. On Tuesday, December 10, 2013, General Motors
announced that Mary Barra would be stepping up as the CEO in
January.
Introduction
3. DeVry program met all the requirements for me to
attend Kettering University to pursue my Master of
Science in Lean Manufacturing
I currently have an AAS in Industrial Management
I am inspired by the teachings of Dr. W. E. Deming,
which were introduced to me while working on the
assembly line at ConAgra Foods
Mary Barra also attended Kettering University
(formerly General Motors Institute)
4. Graduate from DeVry in August of 2016
Achieve my Green Belt and Black Belt in Six
Sigma
Achieve my Master of Science in Lean
Manufacturing before I reach 50.
5. Roots in the company
Mobility of
Management is #4
of Dr. W. E. Demings
Seven Deadly
Diseases
Believes that
simplicity and
transparency are the
keys to fixing the
problems at GM
6. The first EDSer to see a snake kills it.
At GM, the first thing you do is organize
a committee on snakes. Then you bring in
a consultant who knows a lot about snakes.
Third thing you do is talk about it for a year.
-EDS Founder Ross Perot after selling his
Company to GM , 1986 (Colvin)
7. Some of the positions Mary Barra has held in the company
include her first position on the assembly line at the age of 18,
engineer after college, plant manager, head of manufacturing
and product development, assistant to the CEO, and oddly, head
of human resources:
She changed the ten page dress code to
two words- Dress appropriately.
8. Regularly visits each plant and speaks with
the shop floor employees
Actively listens to the employees as well as
asks questions about how they feel processes
could be improved
Encourages input, creativity, and problem-
solving strategies that are derived from the
workers themselves
9. In her article, Mary Barras Bumpy Ride, Rana Foroohar gives us an account of her
tour with Mary Barra.
At one point Barra stops abruptly alongside a line worker using a small magnetic
tool to pick up tiny parts and move them into place more precisely. Thats so
interesting. Ive never seen that tool before, says Barra. The worker, a middle-aged
African-American woman, tells her that she picked it up at a dollar store. What a
clever idea. Thats so creative, says Barra. What a great way to problem-solve.
Mary Barra exercises her philosophy of transparency by welcoming the media
on her regular plant visits when they request interviews.
10. I come from a blue-collar family
I was always curious and constantly wanting
to find out how things work
I always have thought it very important when
given leadership roles to be engaged with the
people I serve
I do not believe in committees and avoidance
of responsibility
11. #1 Lack of Constancy and Purpose
#2 Emphasis on Short Term Profits
#3 Annual Rating of Performance
#4 Mobility of Management
#5 Use of Visible Figures Only
#6 Excessive Medical Costs
#7 Excessive Costs of Liability
13. The best reason to be optimistic about Barras
chances is that, just as she isnt attempting the
change in the old GM-way, she isnt measuring
success that way either. How will she know
whether she is actually changing the culture? The
ultimate proof point will be when we deliver
exceptional financial results by continuing to do
exceptional products and providing an exceptional
customer experience, she says. That is, shell look
outward. Very un-GM-like. Thats how Ill know.
(Colvin)
14. Colvin, G. (2014). Mary Barras (unexpected)
opportunity. Fortune, 170(5), 102-110.
Foroohar, R. (2014). Mary Barras bumpy ride. (Cover
Story). Time, 184(13), 32-38.
Kolhatkar, S. (2014). Dont worry: GM hasnt
shortchanged Mary Barra. Businessweek.Com,
4.
Mary Barra: GMs next CEO?. (2013). Fortune.com, 1.
Editor's Notes
Barra still seems most comfortable on a shop floor (Foroohar) Image of Mary Barra with a Chevrolet Cruze captured from www.forbes.com
Kettering University does not offer a Bachelors Degree online. It must be done on campus. After some research and speaking with Student Services at Kettering, they agreed that the DeVry program would meet their requirements for me to enroll at a later time to pursue my Masters. Despite the dysfunctions in GM as a corporation, Kettering University is still considered the leader in American higher education for providing the best tools and knowledge to become a leader in manufacturing.
I would like to take my time pursuing my Masters at Kettering. I want to have the time to take it all in and truly reap the knowledge offered by this institution to become the best leader I can be. At that time in my life, I will still have 17 years left before I retire (IF I retire at 67), and want to know that I have made a difference. Many people today work into their 70s, because they love their job. I want to love my job.
Shes the ultimate insider, a second-generation company lifer who was born into the GM way. (Colvin) Mary Barra is dedicated to changing the GM way and changing the culture of the company.
Although Ross Perot has sometimes been the target of comedy and political satire, he predicted the troubles that GM would face. Sadly, he was right. Mary Barra took the reigns of a failing company that was faced with a massive recall caused by their own corporate culture. Image captured from www.veteranstoday.com
Photo of Mary Barra addressing the massive recall due to the ignition switch safety issue. Image captured from www.forbes.com.
Dr. W. E. Demings #1 Deadly Disease in Manufacturing- Lack of Constancy and Purpose. Mary Barra nurtures the growth of individuals within the company and encourages employees.
Photo of Mary Barra giving a tour and interview with CBS news anchor Anna Werner. Image captured from www.cbsnews.com
GM was guilty of all of the first five diseases, which lead to #6 and #7. The ignition switch recall could have been avoided if they would have adhered to principles that avoided the first five. Dr. Demings lectures can still be viewed on YOUTUBE.com.
My models of leadership- past and present. Photo of Dr. W. E. Deming captured from www.epic.biz. Photo of Mary Barra captured from www.gm.com.