Mary Barra Quotes

Powerful Mary Barra for Daily Growth

About Mary Barra

Mary T. Barra, born on December 12, 1961, in Royal Oak, Michigan, is an accomplished American automobile executive who has made significant strides in the male-dominated automotive industry. Barra, the daughter of Greek immigrants, grew up with a strong work ethic instilled by her parents. She attended General Motors (GM) plants as a child, igniting her fascination with engineering and cars. Barra pursued an education at the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), where she earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1985. She began her career at GM that same year as a General Motors/Sloan Automotive Research Engineering Scholarship recipient. Throughout her career, Barra held various positions within the company, demonstrating her versatility and dedication. In 2003, she became the first woman ever elected to GM's board of directors. On January 15, 2014, she made history again by becoming the first woman to lead a major global automaker when she was appointed CEO of General Motors Company. Under Barra's leadership, GM has prioritized innovation and sustainability, focusing on electric and autonomous vehicles. One of her most significant achievements was leading the company's successful initial public offering in 2010. Quotes from Mary Barra embody her visionary leadership style and commitment to change: - "There's no greatness-either personal or corporate-without change, without innovation." - "To be successful, you have to be open to change. You have to be willing to learn and evolve." - "I like challenges because I learn from them, and then I never make the same mistake twice." Mary Barra's career is a testament to her perseverance, intelligence, and unyielding determination to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. Her impact on the automotive industry will continue to inspire future generations of leaders.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard."

This quote by Mary Barra highlights that one's aspirations and the effort they are prepared to invest determine the extent of their accomplishments. Essentially, she suggests that there are no inherent or artificial barriers to success; instead, personal dreams serve as a compass for achieving greater heights. The message is to have ambitious goals and be committed in pursuit of them, knowing that hard work will pave the way towards those aspirations.


"I'm a firm believer that everyone should be given an opportunity and that they should have the ability to rise as high as their potential will take them."

This quote by Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, underscores her strong belief in equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance. She advocates for a merit-based system where everyone has an equal chance to excel and reach their full potential, provided they have the ability and determination. This viewpoint emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and equality in fostering growth and progress within organizations and society at large.


"When I think about the next big challenge, I don't see it as a hurdle but rather an opportunity to learn."

This quote by Mary Barra suggests that she views obstacles or challenges not as setbacks, but as opportunities for growth and learning. It showcases her resilience and growth mindset, reflecting her ability to adapt, evolve, and continuously improve in the face of adversity or uncertainty.


"I strongly believe in surrounding yourself with people who have diverse perspectives, experiences and skills. It makes you stronger as a team, and it drives better results."

Mary Barra's quote emphasizes the importance of diversity in building a strong, effective team. Having individuals with diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills contributes to a richer pool of ideas and strategies, which can ultimately lead to improved results. By embracing diversity, teams can tap into unique strengths, overcome biases, and foster an environment conducive to innovation, problem-solving, and adaptability in today's complex and fast-changing world.


"Diversity and inclusion drive innovation and growth, and they are essential to our success."

This quote by Mary Barra emphasizes that diversity and inclusion are fundamental components for fostering innovation and driving business growth. She suggests that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences lead to unique ideas, problem-solving approaches, and creative solutions. By promoting a culture of inclusivity where everyone feels valued and heard, organizations can better harness the power of diversity, ultimately leading to enhanced success and continuous improvement.


I'm a big believer of work/life balance. You need a little down time to recharge to make sure that when you're here, you're really all here. I still have a child in high school, so I go to her sporting events, even if it means leaving work and working again when I get home. I probably should work out a little more than I do.

- Mary Barra

Down, Big, Here, Believer

Our goal is to make General Motors the most valuable automotive company. Clearly, that is having sustainable profitability and driving great returns for our shareholders.

- Mary Barra

Goal, Profitability, Having, Shareholders

Connectivity offers a great opportunity for General Motors. When you look at the investment we have made in OnStar and putting 4GLT in and the access you have to not only put data in, and we haven't really tapped into the data you can use from the vehicle.

- Mary Barra

Data, Access, Putting, Motors

My first job at General Motors was as a quality inspector on the assembly line. I was checking fits between hoods and fenders. I had a little scale and clipboard. At one point, I was probably examining 60 jobs an hour during an eight-hour shift. A job like that teaches you to value all the people who do a job like that.

- Mary Barra

Line, Shift, Checking, Motors

It was great to go to Stanford. Until that point, I'd spent my whole life in southeast Michigan, working for General Motors. I was in a different part of the country. People didn't know what General Motors was, didn't care, or if they did, they might not have had a favorable impression. I saw people driving nondomestic vehicles.

- Mary Barra

Country, Part, Vehicles, Motors

I started at General Motors at 18 years old as a co-op student at the General Motors Institute, which is now Kettering.

- Mary Barra

Student, Old, Which, Motors

My goal is for General Motors to lead in safe autonomous driving.

- Mary Barra

Goal, Driving, General, Motors

When you look at the truck market in North America, you have to understand the customer, and that's one of the things I think General Motors does really well. There's a big population that buys our trucks. It's their life - or it's their livelihood. Not their lifestyle, their livelihood. It's a work truck.

- Mary Barra

Big, I Think, Buys, Motors

I know we're all addicted to our smartphones, and I'll say, if I forget my smartphone, I go home and get it. And so understanding how to integrate that technology into the driving experience, both the front seat and the passenger seat and the back seat, I think is very important.

- Mary Barra

Back, I Think, Very, Integrate

What I always say is, 'Do every job you're in like you're going to do it for the rest of your life, and demonstrate that ownership of it.'

- Mary Barra

Rest, Always, Like, Demonstrate

The biggest message I have for young women is, Don't start cutting off branches of your career tree unnecessarily early. Sometimes women say, I know I want to have a family or play in the local symphony, and they start pulling themselves out of their career path. You don't have to take yourself out of the running before you even start.

- Mary Barra

Play, Career, Young, Career Path

It's a marathon, not a sprint. I actually feel like I come to work stronger when I've had a little time on the weekend to step away from it and enjoy my family and other things. I come back energized. If people think they're going to work 24/7, week in and week out, they're not bringing their full strength to the table.

- Mary Barra

Week, Other, Away, Little Time

My father was a die maker for 39 years, so I had a basic understanding of the automobile industry and what the manufacturing world was like, just from the opportunity to spend time with him - just talking, because he was a car buff.

- Mary Barra

Father, Die, Had, Manufacturing

I never want to get a job because I'm female. I want to get it because I earned it and I deserve it... Whether my hair is going to be blue or purple, people should be judged on how well they do the job and deliver results and whether they do it the right way. That's how I like to be judged; most people are like that.

- Mary Barra

How, Deliver, Earned, Right Way

My senior leadership team is half people who have been at GM for a long period of time like me, and others who have joined the company within the last five years from different industries, experiences, and countries. You have a better picture of the world. The diversity of thought is where you can make better business decisions.

- Mary Barra

Been, Half, Long Period, Industries

One of our most promising technologies is Super Cruise, which is the working name for an innovative system coming to Cadillac in the 2016 time frame. It will allow you to drive on the highway without touching the wheel or pedals, both at speed and in stop-and-go driving.

- Mary Barra

Allow, Time Frame, Our, Frame

The key with autonomous is the whole ecosystem. One of the keys to having truly fully autonomous is vehicles talking to each other.

- Mary Barra

Other, Ecosystem, Having, Fully

When I am there at our global product development centers, I am meeting with the design team and reviewing design work being done there and meeting with engineers responsible for work being done specific to that region, meeting with purchasing team.

- Mary Barra

Work, Development, Product, Region

My parents were both born and raised in the Depression. They instilled great values about integrity and the importance of hard work, and I've taken that with me to every job.

- Mary Barra

Work, Born, Importance, Instilled

Lyft is focused on the customer - the driver - as GM is. I've talked many times about our goal being, 'How we can put the customer at the center of what we do so we earn customers for life?' It's a very common goal of putting the customer first.

- Mary Barra

Very, About, Putting, Customers

When you look at the Chevrolet Volt, those customers are some of the most satisfied across the industry.

- Mary Barra

Satisfied, Some, Industry, Customers

My definition of 'innovative' is providing value to the customer.

- Mary Barra

Value, Innovative, Providing, Customer

We have vehicles like the Opal Atom that we offer in Europe that offer consumers a huge ability to customize, from the color to the accessories. I'd say it's our vehicle that's the most customizable to give it quite a different look and feel.

- Mary Barra

Color, Feel, Vehicles, Europe

My advice on firing is simple: Treat that person the same way you'd want to be treated if you were in that situation. They're still a good person, just not the right fit. So how do you help them move on in a productive way that allows them to maintain their dignity?

- Mary Barra

Treat, Advice, Maintain, Situation

A car is thirty thousand parts you're putting together.

- Mary Barra

Car, Thousand, Putting, Parts

I have worked for a lot of really great leaders and mentors that I felt provided me, along with many of my peers - many of them women - opportunities.

- Mary Barra

Peers, Provided, Felt, Opportunities

Super Cruise will follow the lanes of the road, follow the speed you set, and you can be hands-off driving on an expressway.

- Mary Barra

Will, Set, Super, Driving

If you do every job like you're going to do it for the rest of your life, that's when you get noticed.

- Mary Barra

Rest, Like, Going, Noticed

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.