Mary Barra (née Makela, born 24 December 1961) is an American businesswoman who has been chief executive of General Motors since 15 January 2014 and its chair since January 2016. She is the first woman to lead one of the "Big Three" Detroit carmakers. She started at GM as a student worker at the age of 18. This biography follows her life and career up to November 2026.
Mary Barra at a Glance
| Full name | Mary Teresa Barra (née Makela) |
| Born | 24 December 1961, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States |
| Age | 64 (as of November 2026) |
| Profession | Business executive; chair and CEO of General Motors |
| Education | General Motors Institute, now Kettering University (BS in electrical engineering, 1985); Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA, 1990) |
| Joined GM | 1980 |
| CEO of GM | Since 15 January 2014 |
| Honours | National Academy of Engineering (2018); Yale Legend in Leadership Award (2018) |
| Spouse | Tony Barra |
| Children | Two |
Early Life and Education
Mary Barra was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, to parents of Finnish descent. Her father, Ray Makela, worked for 39 years as a tool and die maker at GM's Pontiac Motor Division, and her mother, Eva, was a strong advocate of higher education for both her children. She graduated from the General Motors Institute, now Kettering University, in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, and she then studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business on a GM fellowship, earning an MBA in 1990.
Rising Through General Motors
Barra started at General Motors in 1980 as a co-op student at 18, checking fender panels and inspecting hoods to pay for her college tuition. She went on to hold engineering and administrative jobs, including managing the Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant. In February 2008 she became vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering, in July 2009 vice president of Global Human Resources, and in February 2011 executive vice president of Global Product Development, where she worked to reduce the number of GM's vehicle platforms. In August 2013 her responsibilities were extended to global purchasing and supply chain.
Chief Executive
In December 2013 GM named Barra to succeed Daniel Akerson as chief executive, and she took over on 15 January 2014, becoming the first woman to head a major automaker. In her first year the company faced a wave of safety recalls linked to a faulty ignition switch, and she was called before the United States Senate to testify. The episode led to new policies encouraging employees to report safety problems. She directed GM's move into driverless and electric vehicles, including the acquisition of the autonomous-driving start-up Strobe. In November 2018 she announced the closure of five North American plants, a decision criticised by President Donald Trump. In 2026 she is still chair and chief executive, and she has described electric vehicles as GM's "endgame" even as federal tax credits for them have ended.
Boards and Honours
Barra was elected to the board of Disney in August 2017, the 12th person and the fourth woman to join it. She is a member of the Stanford University Board of Trustees and the Duke University Board of Trustees, and in March 2022 she was appointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in February 2018, received the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute's Legend in Leadership Award in September 2018, and in 2023 received a Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication.
Personal Life
Barra is married to the consultant Tony Barra, whom she met while studying at Kettering University. They have two children.
Legacy
Barra's career, from the factory floor to the boardroom of one of America's oldest industrial companies, is often cited as a rare example of a leader who spent her whole working life at one firm. The test of her tenure is whether GM succeeds in the shift to electric and self-driving vehicles. This biography draws on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Barra) and [Fortune's 2026 profile](https://fortune.com/ranking/most-powerful-women/2026/mary-barra/).
