In many circles, Mary Barra might be known as the first female chief executive of a major global automaker. Responsible Person: Mary Barra has the courage to take responsibility for the mistakes that have been made. Under Barra's leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future . Perhaps she attained that position through hard work and talent. Leadership lessons from Marry Barra teach us how important it is for leaders to act responsibly for people and the society. Whether you are the owner of a startup that has a handful of staff, or the head of a multinational corporation that employs thousands of workers worldwide, there are plenty of core leadership lessons to take from Mary Barra. 1911 -GM began exporting vehicles outside of the United States. I write about leadership in history, pop culture and business. From transformational leadership to employee-first culture and the importance of knowing your personal values, the first three episodes have featured meaningful life lessons with General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Union Square Hospitality Group CEO and Shake Shack Founder Danny Meyer, and Walker and Company Brands CEO Tristan Walker. According to her, a team effort is very important to fulfill the success. 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. Career & Success , Leadership , Management. Discussion question on Case General Motors Do you think General Motors can outduel the technology In an age of increased scrutiny over gender in the C-suite, some commentators believe that Barra becoming a CEO is an achievement in itself. Fearless brands lead by example, building on experience and vision. With this communication flair, Barra was able to initiate a communications strategy where communication moved both ways on the hierarchy ladder so that meltdowns could be tackled before they materialized. In 2009, when she steered the Human Resources Department at GM, just after the GM meltdown, she replaced the bureaucratic image of HR with more friendly human faces who will be emphasizing on personal accountability and responsibility. Transforming that potential to leadership ability is a goal worth pursuing. Like her tenure in her first five years, though, the company's accounts have been a roller coaster ride during this time. Were encouraging young women and girls to stay with STEM.. Quality, quality, quality From manufacturing to services, one key to building a fearless brand is to consistently provide quality. View mary barra.docx from BUSINESS 2102 at JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY. This strengthens camaraderie and a positive culture of care. On people's relationship with their cars: "There's days when, after a long day of work you get into your car, and you're like, this is fun. This month, Mary Barra succeeded Dan Akerson as General Motor's newest Chief Executive Officer. It is therefore difficult to declare Indra Nooyi a transformational leader. There would be transparency within the company. She was recognized as one of the world's most powerful women Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Education is one of GMs core giving priorities. Mary Barra is committed to reversing that issue. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en consultant vos paramtres de vie prive. When Mary Barra became CEO of General Motors (GM) in January 2014, she was by most measures an utterly conventional candidate for the job. The only way to align on values is through dialogue. There are lots of lessons to learn for other leaders from her activities while she was acting as CEO of GM. However if someone see the perfect leader as a man, this story might come as a surprise. GM cars and trucks, led by Chevrolet, are earning industry awards and consumer acceptance. She strongly believes that pre-reading should be sent before meetings to maximize discussion during the meeting. She has also had to endure one of the biggest headaches of any corporate executive: 48,000 workers going on strike for 40 days. However, the woman herself sees her achievements differently. Cornell University, B.S. Without one, the front line will not get or understand the message. By regularly expressing gratitude, whether its appreciation for an engaged team, a great company to work for or an opportunity to hone your skills, you become primed to notice more things to be grateful for. The manager "sells" the decision 3. A transformative leader exemplifies the characteristics that they seek in their team. Ethical Leader Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors is changing the culture of one of the largest automotive companies applying ethical leadership. Ultimately, she did not just pay lip service in Washington; she followed through on her promises. Several top business people from both inside and outside of GM,have stated that she is one of the most talented executives theyve ever encountered. In todays highly turbulent and uncertain business environment, navigating a constant state of agile transformation is the new leadership normal. This is the process of discovering, embracing and delivering their greatest value which allows them to realize greater profit. The great leader is Marry Barra, CEO of GM, appointed in 2014 (NYtimes, 2013). 5) Simplification of Leadership Process. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, made headlines in 2013 when she became the first female CEO of an auto company. Forbes named Mary Barra who is the CEO of General Motors (hereafter, GM) as The World's Most Powerful Women in Business 2018 (ranked 4 th) and the The World's Most Powerful People (ranked 53) (Nagl 2018).Understand her leadership style and future strategy required a grasp on her past. The Wall Street Journal distilled takeaways on navigating the pandemic from profiles of business leaders. . Mary Barra started working at General Motors when only 18 as a co-op student in 1980 (Colby, 2015). She personifies the adage that actions speak louder than words. 70. Your email address will not be published. Employees not only were safe from negative reaction for reporting issues they would be rewarded. The manager presents a tentative decision that is subject to change 5. Value is determined by your customers. But you also see the goodness of people and how to really help them achieve their goals". That said, Barra continues to change the way GM operates at least internally. Would you consider Mary Barra to be the prototypical transformational leader? Quick Learner: Barra always puts her priority in learning new things and developing her skills. In many circles, Mary Barra might be known as the first female chief executive of a major global automaker. Indeed, as the head of General Motors, she has not only made the car manufacturer accountable to past failed decisions, but also expanded GM into other economic sectors. Founder, Embrace Possibility, an online resource to help people reach their full potential, Prior Education Required fields are marked *. Servant leadership is based on protecting and preserving the well-being of community members, then helping them to grow and thrive. When it comes to General Motors, you might say that CEO Mary Barra is ride or die. GameStop undergoes makeover as 8 board members leave, Leadership and 10 Great Leaders from History. It may come as no surprise that sustainability and protecting the environment are issues at the forefront of both CEOs' minds. Create a corps of leaders who think newly, act differently and are prepared to lead in the market and the organization by writing new rules for the game. "So, if we as a company have the right technology that allows us to deliver fuel economy, yet still offer a range of size and products to meet people's needs and wants, that's how we win". During their conversation, she highlighted several principles and tips that have led to her success. Barra proves her worth and courage by taking the responsibilities and teaching the employees to emphasize their personal accountabilities. 1930 -GM bought the railcar builder companies Yellow Coach Company and the ElectroMotive Corporation. Once she was invited for the Harvard Business School program and she managed some time from her busy job for attending the program which reflected her enthusiasm towards learning. In 1999, she was named General Director, Internal Communications for GM North America. She then introduced the speak for safety program that encourages employees to report issues without the fear of punishments to encourage accountability and responsibility. Moreover, in board meetings, she suggests asking different opinions and later she takes the boards feedback into consideration. She was born into a hard-working blue-collar family in Waterford, Michigan on Christmas Eve 1961. Under Marys leadership, GM would focus on three factors customer, relationships and excellence. Director ofInfluenceo Global Inc., leadership strategist, speaker & personal mastery expert helping professional womenexcel. "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. By many accounts, Barra attributes her success at GM to keeping the companys interests and not her own career the focus of her attention. Barra, who rose through the ranks, is the highest-ranking female executive in the auto industry. Since being appointed CEO in January 2014, GM has experienced impressive positive guidance under Mary Barras ethical style. Through her knowledge, experience, leadership skills, Mary continued to distinguish herself and advance within GM's management structure. She was named the CEO of General Motors, assuming that position on January 15, 2014 making her the first ever female to head a major automobile manufacturing company. Why did you choose these values? and after that, she listens to their point of view. There, she earned an MBA, before returning to work full time at General Motors. The Mary Barra leadership style also revolves around maximizing the use of technology to fuel innovation. Mary Barra is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors. While students in Whartons MBA Program for Executives are busy with full-time jobs and school, we still have opportunities to participate in events across both campuses. She's the first woman to run a global automaker. At first glance, the necessity of this quality is not obvious. Several actions stand out, including her passion for supporting and building up young people, particularly young women in Detroit public schools. She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors on Jan. 4, 2016, and has served as CEO of GM since Jan. 15, 2014. Mary Barra is a role model for many. Prior to becoming CEO, Mary served as GM's Chief HR Officer, EVP of global product development, and ran an assembly plant. One of the new mechanisms in place was encouraging employees to report problems when confronted with issues that may seem incorrect, contradictory to manufacturing specifications, or inferior. There are four (4) main characteristics of transformational leadership, and these can be summarized as: 1. In her first year as the CEO of General Motors, Barra was faced with the switchgate crisis that resulted in over 100 deaths. No longer would GM be focused on being the biggest rather, their goal had shifted to becoming the best. A recent example is Whartons annual People Analytics Conference. . Upon graduating high school, Mary became a co-op student attending the General Motors Institute now the Kettering University and working in the Pontiac plant inspecting hood and fender panels. 2. Its a set of actions and behaviors that, when applied consistently, lead to a heightened sense of subjective well-being (described in positive psychology as how people experience the quality of their lives). "Sometimes, people do the craziest things. Partner, Exec|Comm, a global communication skills consultancy If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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