Portrait of Mary Barra
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Mary Barra on Innovation

Driver of transformation (strong)

TL;DR

Mary Barra views innovation as a critical, cross-cutting mindset necessary for organizational transformation and speed in a rapidly changing environment.

Key Points

  • She described the fast-action, mission-driven mindset used during ventilator production as 'ventilator speed,' which is now applied to speed up other processes.

  • Barra stated that innovation is a core value within GM's relationships principle, alongside integrity and accountability, as of her discussions in 2014.

  • Previously, she maintained that strategic innovation requires preparedness for an unknown future, believing there would not be one 'silver bullet' for energy solutions.

Summary

Mary Barra champions innovation as a core tenet for General Motors, viewing it as essential for navigating rapid change and transforming the organization. She connects innovation directly to operational speed, citing the ability to work at 'ventilator speed' as a mindset that should be applied across the business, including accelerating electric vehicle development. Her approach emphasizes challenging the status quo and empowering diverse teams to find solutions, often by questioning existing rules and bottlenecks to achieve rapid results.

This focus on innovation is also linked to her leadership philosophy, which encourages constructive tension and vigorous debate to ensure all angles are evaluated before a final decision is made. She has noted that in a complex world, innovation is not about one single solution but requires an energy diversity policy, referencing ongoing work across multiple vehicle technologies like batteries, fuel cells, and improving internal combustion engines. For her, innovation is thus a multifaceted strategy ensuring the company remains prepared for an unpredictable future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mary Barra views innovation as a necessary mindset for organizational transformation and speed, not just a product development function. She links it to challenging the status quo and empowering teams to work faster and more efficiently across the business.

The CEO encourages innovation by valuing diversity of thought and demanding vigorous debates to evaluate decisions from every angle before making a final call. She also fosters an environment where empowering people and getting out of their way allows them to achieve extraordinary things.

Yes, she has seen a transformation in commitment by applying lessons from crisis-driven speed to areas like vehicle development, moving to an all-electric fleet more quickly. This innovation mindset is seen as key to securing the company's future.