2024 Ernest C. Arbuckle Award Dinner Honoring Mary Barra, MBA ’90

02 Jul 2024 (6 months ago)

Mary Barra's Accomplishments and Impact

Mary Barra, the Chair and CEO of General Motors, was honored with the Arbuckle Award at Stanford Business School.
Barra, a Stanford GSB alumna, has been instrumental in fostering collaboration between General Motors and Stanford GSB, particularly through impactful executive education programs.
Arden Hoffman, Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at General Motors, highlighted Barra's remarkable achievements, including being one of the top 10 longest-tenured Fortune 500 CEOs and the longest-tenured female CEO of a Fortune 100 company.
Barra's leadership inspires followership, and many employees join and stay at General Motors because of her.
Despite the demands of her position, Barra remains an incredible human being to her people at work, prioritizing their well-being and motivation.

Mary Barra shared her journey from working at General Motors as a co-op student to becoming the CEO.
She credited her time at Stanford Business School for changing the trajectory of her life, as it exposed her to a diverse range of perspectives and world-class faculty.
She emphasized the importance of lifelong friendships formed during her time at Stanford and acknowledged the support of her classmates and professors.
Barra highlighted the value of the practical knowledge gained from courses such as Decision Sciences and Management Control Accounting, which broadened her understanding of the business world.

Running a plant was a formative experience for Barra, as it taught her the importance of leadership, empathy, and effective communication.
As the head of HR during the post-bankruptcy period, Barra realized the importance of creating a culture where people want to work and understanding that people are the most valuable asset in any organization.
After General Motors emerged from bankruptcy, Barra and her predecessor focused on product excellence and making strategic decisions about capital deployment, moving away from the idea of being everywhere for everybody.
Barra decided to focus on EVs (electric vehicles) after realizing that Tesla was gaining momentum and that the company needed to move towards an all-electric future.
General Motors (GM) plans to have all its light-duty vehicles be electric by 2035.
The company sees the vehicle as a software platform with the potential to improve customer experience and safety through connectivity and autonomous driving.
GM believes it has the technology to achieve level four self-driving vehicles, which could significantly improve safety and reduce congestion.
To be a winner in the competitive EV and autonomous driving market, GM emphasizes the importance of having the best product, strong brand loyalty, beautiful design, the right portfolio, affordability, and an outstanding customer experience.

The auto industry is highly regulated and important for providing good-paying jobs, making it a focus of attention for whoever is in office.
GM aims to work productively with the administration and Congress to ensure a positive relationship.
Key challenges faced by the leadership team include transforming vehicle propulsion, competing in software and autonomous driving, managing a complex global supply chain, and adapting to geopolitical situations.
Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, discussed various global trends and challenges, including supply chain issues and geopolitical uncertainties, that impact the automotive industry.
She emphasized the importance of being prepared for geopolitical changes that could alter the competitive landscape.

Barra expressed her admiration for Taylor Swift's new album and appreciated the interconnectedness of the songs.
She advised Stanford Business School students to recognize the privilege of their education, work hard, and build strong connections with classmates.
Barra highlighted the enduring bond among her graduating class of 1990 and encouraged students to invest in their relationships.