Charging Ahead: GM, Mary Barra, and the Reinvention of an American Icon

Mary Barras is the CEO of GM, who is attempting to reinvent the century-old company and equip it for the biggest change in transportation since the internal combustion engine replaced the horse. She wants to make GM purely electric and clean by 2035, and is one of the most powerful female executives in the world. Her forward-thinking vision, approach to leadership, and accomplishments against the odds are important to highlight.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Focus

Mary Barras quest to move General Motors (GM) to a manufacturer of electric cars has captured the attention of automobile aficionados, green-business advocates, and leaders of all types who have to admire Marys toughness in moving forward despite the overwhelming obstacles in her path.

A decade ago, no one would have guessed that GM would be the company poised to lead America into the future. At a time when business book readers seem endlessly fascinated by soaring tech giants like Amazon and Netflix, and ill-fated startups like WeWork and Theranos, why is it important to put the spotlight back on 112-year-old GM? Because Charlie Wilsons quip from 1952 is still true: Whats good for GM is still good for America, and vice versa. America needs to transition to a new era of clean energy and environmentally sustainable transportation. We also need to adapt to a world with far fewer assembly-line jobs, but far more skilled jobs for people who can design, build, and operate robots and other high-tech machines. GMs attempt to lead those transitions is as important as it is dramatic.

Equally compelling is the story of GMs CEO, Mary Barra, who against all odds took the reins at GM in 2014. Since that time, she has attempted to reinvent a century-old company and equip it for the biggest change in transportation since the internal combustion engine replaced the horse. In the process, she has been ripping out GM traditions by the roots and taking flak from all sides. Her plan is to make GM—the company famed for the gas-burning Corvette, hulking Cadillac Escalade, and carbon-spewing Silverado pickup—purely electric and clean by 2035.

She may not be as wealthy as Jeff Bezos, as brash as Elon Musk, or as powerful as Mark Zuckerberg, but Mary Barra is just as important as any of them. And as one of the few women leading a major global corporation, she is a role model for women everywhere.

As GM moves towards its electric future, it is clear that Barra is not afraid to take risks and make difficult decisions. She has faced criticism from some quarters for her decision to shut down several GM plants and lay off thousands of workers, but she believes that it is necessary to invest in the companys future and ensure its long-term viability.

Barra has also been praised for her commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. She has announced that GM will invest $27 billion in electric and hybrid vehicles over the next five years, and she has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, Barra remains optimistic about the future of GM and the role that it can play in shaping the transportation industry. She believes that the company has the talent, the resources, and the commitment to make the transition to electric vehicles a success, and she is determined to lead GM through the changes that lie ahead.

In conclusion, Mary Barras quest to move GM to a manufacturer of electric cars is a remarkable story of resilience, determination, and innovation. She has faced countless obstacles and criticisms, but she has remained committed to her vision of a cleaner, more sustainable future for the company and the world. As GM moves towards its electric future, Barra is a role model for women everywhere and a symbol of the power of leadership and vision.

Weight: 414g
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781400233595