- The speaker acknowledges the importance of mentors and role models in their career progression.
- They credit great mentors from 20 years ago for their current position and the inclusive and diverse environment at General Motors.
- They highlight the significant roles held by women in the company, including the chief engineer of the Bolt EV.
- The speaker is surprised by the outdated view of the auto industry and General Motors in terms of diversity and inclusion.

Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of General Motors, speaks to Dean Bill Boulding about leadership as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Did you find the role models and the mentors as you were making progress through your career?

And 1 of the things I say is I wouldn't be sitting here in this role if there hadn't been great mentors 20 years ago that were committed to diversity, that were committed to developing people and having a very inclusive and diverse environment.

When I look at the company now, our head of audit, our head of North America manufacturing and global manufacturing.

I mean I can go on and on with the list of women who are in very significant roles.

I mean in fact the chief engineer of the Bolt EV that is out in front is a woman.

And so, and to get to those positions, that started 15, 20 years ago.

And so I think that's 1 of the best kept secrets about General Motors, of how inclusive and diverse we are, and how it's welcomed.

So that did surprise me, and it also surprised me because there's so many women in very significant roles, whether in governments, running countries, or in other significant corporations.

But I think it was this outdated view of the auto industry, or at least of General Motors.


Speaker 0: Did you find the role models and the mentors as you were making progress through your career? How did that work for you?

Speaker 1: Absolutely. And 1 of the things I say is I wouldn't be sitting here in this role if there hadn't been great mentors 20 years ago that were committed to diversity, that were committed to developing people and having a very inclusive and diverse environment. When I look at the company now, our head of audit, our head of North America manufacturing and global manufacturing. Our head of marketing in Europe. I mean I can go on and on with the list of women who are in very significant roles.

I mean in fact the chief engineer of the Bolt EV that is out in front is a woman. And so, and to get to those positions, that started 15, 20 years ago. And so I think that's 1 of the best kept secrets about General Motors, of how inclusive and diverse we are, and how it's welcomed. So that did surprise me, and it also surprised me because there's so many women in very significant roles, whether in governments, running countries, or in other significant corporations. But I think it was this outdated view of the auto industry, or at least of General Motors.

See all Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business transcripts on Youtube

General Motors CEO Mary Barra on Women in Leadership