Most people assume that the auto world is run by men, but that’s simply not true. From female designers to engineers and other key players, women play a significant role in our industry and this is exemplified by GM’s CEO Mary Barra.
We’re proud to announce that Barra has been named the Most Powerful Woman of the year by Fortune magazine, after placing No. 2 on the list last year. No stranger to accolades, this isn’t the first (or second) time Barra has been acknowledged among world business leaders. She’s also made the Most Powerful Women list in 2013 and 2012, placing 29th and 27th, respectively. As you can see she’s really climbed the ranks and after her first year as CEO for GM it’s understandable.
Additionally, Barra has landed spots on the magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Autos list (2013) and scored the leading spot among its World’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business (2014). On top of this, earlier this year she ranked ninth on the publication’s list of World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, outscoring honorees like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill and Melinda Gates.
Barra has been employed with General Motors for 34 years. She started at the GM Institute when she turned 18 and worked as an engineering intern at a Pontiac factory. Later, after earning her MBA from Stanford in 1990, she moved into several executive roles, including the position of executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. Her crowning achievement came in January 2014, when she was appointed to the role of General Motors CEO.
