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Auto dot ai works for virtual 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: meetings like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Sign up 19 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: on the web for free or download in the up stores. 20 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: Ato dot ai. That's O T T E R dot ai. 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Katie Couric and I'm Bosma st. John 22 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: and this is back to Biz with Katie and Bows. 23 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 1: This week, Bos, we have a really exciting and very 24 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: inspiring guests. She's such a trailblazer, such an inspiration in 25 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: the business world. I know you haven't met her, but 26 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,199 Speaker 1: you know all about her. So take it away, Bows, 27 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: tell us about our guests, Mary Barra, Katie, I am 28 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: excited about Mary Bara. She is all of my corporate goals. 29 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: She is the CEO of General Motors, one of the 30 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: big three Detroit automakers. GM is one of the largest 31 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: and historically importing companies to the American economy. And I 32 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: mean talk about male dominated. You can't get more of 33 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: a swaggering boys club than the car industry, that's for sure. 34 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: And when Mary was appointed Bows and two thousand fourteen, 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: only twenty of the Fortune five hundred chief Execs were women, 36 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: and now we're up to thirty seven, which we should 37 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 1: note is still impossibly infuriating lee small, but as more 38 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: women take over those executive positions, we really have to 39 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: thank leaders like Mary Barra. Absolutely, she's incredible and it 40 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: was such a pleasure to meet her over Zoom and 41 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: have this meaty, wonderful conversation. You know, she shared her 42 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: path to leadership and how she was able to make 43 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: such a massive company like GM act nimbly in a 44 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: time of crisis. But of course we had to start 45 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: in the here and now we had to talk about 46 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: this letter she wrote to a nearly two hundred thousand 47 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 1: employees in response to our current racial unrest. I have 48 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: to tell you, Katie, I was. I mean, I'm really 49 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: really impressed, you know, the company let her expressed some 50 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: fiery sentiments that I really haven't heard seen presented by 51 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: many CEOs at all, and a lot of people. Hopefully 52 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: Bo's will follow suit. And I've got a quote from 53 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: that letter. She says she is impatient and disgusted by 54 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: the fact that as a nation we seem to be 55 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: placated by the passive discussion of why we wanted to 56 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: know where her head was that when she wrote that letter, 57 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: and how she plans on turning those words into action. 58 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: So we started there. Ye, let's get into it. Well, 59 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 1: I think, uh, you know, there was this sense of 60 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: sadness and frustration that I had as I you know, 61 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: learned what was happening and processed it, and at a 62 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: human level, it was just unconscionable of what happened. And 63 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: I'm an engineer by degree, and so I'm a problem solver, 64 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:40,839 Speaker 1: you know, I think we It just became very clear 65 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: to me there's been too many others that we can't 66 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: just you know, talk about why and then you know, 67 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: something else replaces the news cycle and nothing gets done. 68 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: Became really important to me that we do something and 69 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: we find solutions and we drive her last team change 70 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: And I'm really you know, I'm just passionate about really 71 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: making changes and stop talking. Let's start doing that. Is 72 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: that's that's so true and refreshing to hear. I know 73 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: that your letter also announced the formation of an advisory board, UM, 74 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: as you said, which has the intention of making GM 75 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: a more inclusive company in the world. Um, what do 76 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: you think that the company and perhaps like yourself and 77 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: the others who are leading the company, UM, how do 78 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: you actually get there? Like, how do you make it 79 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: a more inclusive company? Because that's really the operative word here. 80 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: You know, Diversity is one thing, certainly, you know, we 81 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: can have people of all types of backgrounds and cultures, ethnicities, etcetera. 82 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: But inclusion is what actually makes it workable. It's what 83 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: actually creates the success. So what what is it that 84 00:04:55,640 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: you intend to do by creating this advisory board. Well, Jeam, 85 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: we've been talking about for a while now that we 86 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 1: want to have a culture and an environment where everybody 87 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: can bring your true self to work because if you 88 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: can be your true self, you can be at your best. 89 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: And so that's been our goal. Uh. We recognize we 90 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: have more work to do, and so with the Inclusion 91 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: Advisory Board, one of the very first things we know 92 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: we need to do is listen because we don't have 93 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: all the answers. Uh. And so actually I'm excited because 94 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: this evening we have one of our first listening sessions 95 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: with several members of the Senior Leader team, and we 96 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: believe we need to listen, we need to talk, we 97 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: need to learn together. Uh. You know, as I said 98 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: in in the note, um, you know, listening and talking 99 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: will lead to the dialogue that will lead to change. 100 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: And so uh, that's one of the areas we need 101 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 1: to work on. I'm also personally very uh pleased that 102 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: I get to be a part of the b RT 103 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: group that is going to work on four areas of 104 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: the area of from a finance perspective, a healthcare perspective, education, 105 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: and Workforce, which is the committee I chair, and then 106 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: Criminal Justice because I do think we need systemic change. 107 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: And you know, when you a company like General Motors, uh, 108 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: you know, we feel a responsibility to drive change within 109 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: our environment and what we can do with our dealers 110 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 1: and our suppliers. So we have a pretty wide footprint. 111 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: But then in addition to working with the Business Roundtable 112 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,239 Speaker 1: and all of those companies, I think, you know, together 113 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: we can really, we can really start to dismantle um 114 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: and and change systems for the better. So again, we 115 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 1: have much work to do to build on things that 116 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: we've already done, but we have much more work to do, 117 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: and we're gonna be working both as a company and 118 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: then as a collection of companies. It seems to me 119 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: that we've reached this new era where it's not really 120 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: okay to stay silent on some of these shoes. We've 121 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: seen people like you Mary speaking out. Jeff Bezos basically 122 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: told a customer from Amazon that if he didn't like it, 123 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: you know, he could lump it, and he didn't mind 124 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: losing him as a customer, which is a real shift 125 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: for Jeff Bezos. And we see, you know, people like 126 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: Ken Fraser, the CEO of Mark saying George Floyd could 127 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: have been him. And you know, I think that that 128 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: we're hearing from these corporate leaders in a much more 129 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: palpable way right now. Why is that so essential? And 130 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: and what do you make of this real shift in 131 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: and speaking out? Okay, you know again, when I when 132 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: I look at General Motors, we've always said we want 133 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: to be known as a values based company, and so 134 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: as we have spoken out in the past, it's always 135 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: been to make sure our employees understood what we believed in, 136 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: what we stood for as it relates to our values. 137 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: And I think it is to a tipping point now 138 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: where it would be inconsistent with our values not to 139 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: speak out and not to uh work with others and 140 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: challenge ourselves and challenge others. When I when I said 141 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: in the note we want to be the most inclusive 142 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: company in the world, I don't want to. I mean 143 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: I want every company to be the most inclusive in 144 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: the world, because it's not something we should compete on. 145 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: It's something we all have to dedicate ourselves to do. 146 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: So to me, it's values based and you can't stay 147 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: silent when something is just fundamentally happening that is so 148 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: inconsistent with your values. You you have a responsibility to act. 149 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: That's um. That is quite a radical statement. It really 150 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: is to say that it's not just about General Motors 151 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: being the most inclusive company in the world, that you 152 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: want every company. I feel I have to pause there 153 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: because I don't know that I've ever heard that before. 154 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: I'm curious, Bows, do you think that's starting to happen? 155 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: Obviously Mary is a real leader in this. Do you 156 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: think that more and more people will follow Mary Bara's lead. 157 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: I hope that more people follow Mary's lead, But I 158 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: do think that this is a change. I again, I 159 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: have never felt the kind of movement and the kind 160 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: of personal responsibility that leaders are taking in this very moment. 161 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: I've never seen this before. Yes, this type of thing 162 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: has happened a lot. This is not the first video 163 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: we've seen. It actually makes me quite enraged when we 164 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: think about the countless people who don't have video. But 165 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: I do believe that there are several things that are 166 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: adding to this moment. I mean, obviously we cannot ignore 167 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen and so when you see something like George 168 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: Floyd's video of his murder I think it is shocking. 169 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: It is shocking, and it makes us all wake up. 170 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: And so I do believe that this is a turning 171 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: point for all of us. UM. And I've also said 172 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 1: that I wish more companies would make more statements like 173 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: Mary is making. But I I do wonder about the 174 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: some of the mixed reactions you know that the company's getting. 175 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: Perhaps there are some fear from business leaders to make 176 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: the kind of bold statements that Mary and others are making. Um, 177 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: you know, because there's there's gonna be mixed reaction. Sometimes 178 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 1: people won't believe you right right. I was going to 179 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: ask you Mary about sort of you know, we live 180 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: in such a cynical age and I'm wondering if, if 181 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,839 Speaker 1: if you're worried on behalf of other leaders like yourself, 182 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: that that some will view this as sort of flagrant 183 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: brand opportunism. You know, that they are jumping on the 184 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: bandwagon that they um that that they're not really that 185 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: sincere in their commitment, And I'm curious how you feel 186 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: about that. Well, I would say I've I've had the 187 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: opportunity over the last couple of weeks to talk to 188 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: a lot of CEOs and uh, it's real there. I mean, 189 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: you know, it's a it's a deep concern and from 190 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: that comes a strong commitment. And so you know, from 191 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: every all the CEOs that I've talked to, I believe 192 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: it's it's real and it's sincere, and they're being very authentic. 193 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: And I would also say, you know, with the response 194 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: that I've received from the letter we shared at General Motors, 195 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: not only did we have hundreds in one day, we 196 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: had almost six responses from our employees on our internal site, 197 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: but I've had dealers reach out to me, suppliers reach 198 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: out to me saying thank you. You know, we believe 199 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: in this too, and you know we want to work 200 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: with you. And so, uh, you know, we expected there 201 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: would be some you know, pushback or some negativity and 202 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: other than some skepticism, which I think is are you know, 203 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: some of our employees kind of said, hey, yeah, I 204 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: hear you, I read what you said. I want to 205 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: see what you're going to do. And I think that's 206 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: a very fair response. And that's why you know, we're 207 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: taking steps with the fund we've set up, in the 208 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: initial donation we've made to the Double A c P 209 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: and the fact that we're already starting our listening to us, 210 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: and it happens to be my first listening session. There 211 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: have been other leaders that have already been having uh 212 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: discussions uh to to to learn and to also provide 213 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:34,079 Speaker 1: a resource to to their employees because this is such 214 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: a difficult time. Uh. I was talking to one of 215 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: our leaders today and she said, you know, people are exhausted. Um. 216 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: This issue has been so troubling and so so difficult. 217 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: I'm wondering, Mary, how much you've learned about how to 218 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: tackle this challenge through your work on gender equality. GM 219 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: has been consistently recognized as one of the world's eating 220 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: corporations and establishing gender equality. Um. First of all, how 221 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: do you get other people to follow suit? And what 222 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: lessons have you learned from those efforts that could be 223 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: applied to creating a more diverse and an inclusive workplace 224 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: and company. Well, I would say one of the big 225 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: lessons I learned because, as I mentioned, you know, there 226 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: was work going on over twenty years ago that allowed 227 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: me to have the chances and the opportunities that uh, 228 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,439 Speaker 1: you know, allowed me to be ready and considered for 229 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: the position I'm in now. You know, as the company 230 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,719 Speaker 1: in the late oh eight oh nine time from as 231 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,599 Speaker 1: we went through the bankruptcy, I realized as we survived, 232 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: we had to start again. So I think what a 233 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: mindset people have to have is this is never done. 234 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,719 Speaker 1: This is something of you know, or I guess I 235 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: look for the day when it doesn't need special focus. 236 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: But I think we're a long way off from having 237 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: leaders very deliberate about uh, creating diverse groups, diverse opportunities. Uh. 238 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: And and you know, it really gets to I would say, 239 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: I'm an engineer, and so what I've had a challenge 240 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: myself to do is I think I would sometimes pick 241 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: people like me because I was like, Okay, well I 242 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: know I'll get it done. So if I pick someone 243 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: like me, they'll get it done. And recognizing you get 244 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: a really narrow slice when you do that. And so 245 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: we've worked really hard to have our leadership team not 246 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: only have you know, i'll say gender, race, from a 247 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: diversity perspective, but also experiences other companies. And then because that, 248 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: you know, very diverse thinking, I think has allowed us 249 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: to make better decisions and challenge each other. And so 250 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: I really think that we it's something you have to 251 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: continually focus and make sure again, it's a business imperative 252 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: just as much as you know, wanting our next set 253 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: of electric vehicles. And that's the mindset that we have 254 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: to have. And that's to the learnings I had, because 255 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: I think at some point people said, Okay, well we've 256 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: got that, We're doing well. It's it's a continual focus. 257 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: You're listening to Back to Biz with Katie and Bows 258 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: and when we come back, Mary Barra on GM's decision 259 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: to stop making cars and start making ventilators. 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Here's another podcast you should add to your 270 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: listen list, All Worth Financials Money Matters. Every week, host 271 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: Scott Hansen and Pat McClain answer calls about investing, social 272 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: Security benefits and retirement with straight talk that's straight up entertaining. 273 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: Everyone worries, well I have enough to retire. That's why 274 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: thousands have called into all Worth Money Matters for advice 275 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: on their financial future and found the smart next steps 276 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: to keep their retirement plan on track. There's a reason 277 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: Money Matters is one of the longest running financial talk 278 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: shows in the country. It's Scott and Pat's entertaining experience knowledge, 279 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: whether it's how to deal with tomorrow's inflation or the 280 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: big costs of healthcare in retirement. They've got action steps 281 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: you can start taking every episode to ensure you reach 282 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: your financial goals. Do your retirement a favor and add 283 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: these guys to your production playlist. You'll find all worse 284 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: Money Matters everywhere there are. Podcasts provide personalized assessments of 285 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: the key areas you need to consider and master, deliver 286 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: next steps to take action and keep your retirement plan 287 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: on track. The moment you realized you were mistaking your 288 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: kids for co workers okay, team, I'm what was the 289 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: moment you knew it was time to get back to work. 290 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: Let's drop it up at career Builder. Are simple customizable 291 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: search tool lets you search for part time, full time, 292 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: and even work from home jobs so you can find 293 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: a job that fits your lifestyle. Get started now at 294 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: career builder dot com. When Mary Barra became CEO of GM, 295 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: she was not only the first female CEO in GM's history, 296 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: she was also the first woman to lead any of 297 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: the Big three Detroit automakers. Talk about a glass ceiling. 298 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: Mary credits her role models for helping her realize that 299 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: it was hers to smash. Yeah. I think, you know, 300 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 1: for me, it starts. Um. I had a phenomenal mother 301 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 1: who made me. You know, she just encouraged me from 302 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: I think the day I was born that my brother 303 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: and I we could do anything, we could be anythinging 304 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: and if we worked hard, we could make it happen. 305 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 1: And so she, uh, you know, I think having that, 306 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: you know, through my life, I you know, I always 307 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: had this belief in myself. Um, and so I think 308 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: that carried me uh into uh, you know, many of 309 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: the positions leading up to this and gave me that confidence. 310 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: Because one of the things when I first was in 311 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: this job, actually a daughter of one of our employees 312 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: said to said to me, because you're in this role. 313 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: I now see that I can do this and I 314 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: hadn't again because of my mom. Just you know, it 315 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: was just such an encouraging person I had a I 316 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: had a really step back and think about that, and 317 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: that caused me to realize I had an extra role 318 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: to play of not of of championing um, young women 319 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: because we've we've done a lot of work as Katie 320 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, from a gender perspective, and helping women understand 321 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: some of the situations they put themselves in. Uh. You know, 322 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: I always used the example, Uh, if there's a posting 323 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: for a new job, a woman will look at it 324 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: and say, if there's ten requirements and she only has 325 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 1: nine of them, she'll be like, oh bummer. Where a 326 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 1: man will look at and say, I've got six and 327 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: ten I'm gonna go for and what I women exactly 328 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: and it's like, no, don't don't be mad at them. 329 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: You go for it because even if you don't get 330 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 1: the position, you're going to learn and so UM, I 331 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,400 Speaker 1: think when I got to the role, it was something 332 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: I very quickly realized I could play an additional role 333 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: of really encouraging girls and young women and being a 334 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: champion but also working within the company for that, and 335 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: then as we did more work from m for a bias. 336 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: You know, one of everyone has biases. So being able 337 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: to start talking about that and sharing what we've learned 338 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 1: because I have found personally, as I realized some of 339 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: the ways I was looking at things, we're just not right. UM, 340 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: it really gave me the opportunity and we started having 341 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: open dialogue and conversation about it. And so I think 342 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: that's been one of the the things that I think 343 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: has been powerful UH within our group. But I we 344 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: also brought We do a lot of high performance teamwork. 345 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,439 Speaker 1: We work with an outside coach to UM to really 346 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: help us know ourselves, understand our weak weaknesses, where we 347 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: can be better, where our blind spots, and I think 348 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: that work has been important and now lays the foundation 349 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: for us to have the very important conversations and take 350 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: the actions we need to take now and to hold 351 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 1: ourselves accountable. So Mary Um, let's talk about business first though, 352 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,719 Speaker 1: how the pandemic affected your business, because while all this 353 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,480 Speaker 1: is going on, it's against the backdrop of a pandemic 354 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: that has UH laid bare some serious social issues. But 355 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: I'm just curious, did you realize early on what a 356 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: serious problem this was going to be because you have 357 00:20:55,119 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: facilities all over the world, including China. Yes, and before 358 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: we transition and be happy to to talk about that, 359 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: I would say that the issue we've been discussing I 360 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 1: do see as a huge business issue for business to 361 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: address and be part of the systemic change that we 362 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: need to make, uh, to uphold our our responsibilities as 363 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: as citizens and as corporate leaders. So, um, but that's 364 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: a good that's actually a very good point. This is business. Um, 365 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 1: it's not the bottom line. It's it's workplace culture. So 366 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: thank you, which which drives the bottom line. And if 367 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: you don't you know, people have choices. And if you 368 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: don't have a culture of inclusion and you aren't valuing 369 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 1: everyone over time, people people can can choose. So I 370 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: I just wanted to say that. But as it relates 371 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: to COVID clearly, Um. As as we were in the 372 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: early part of the year, late January early February, we 373 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: started to see the impact on China. Uh, you know, 374 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 1: we we had to shut our facilities there and uh, 375 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: you know, really work and make sure we were doing 376 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: the right thing for our people and you know, reaching 377 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: out working with our suppliers and dealers, etcetera. So at 378 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: that point though it was still not clear if it would, 379 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: you know, have the global reach that now clearly it has. Uh. 380 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: As as we did see that happening, we were able 381 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: to take all of the learnings from China and then 382 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: from Korea and other operations around the globe, and that 383 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: very much informed what we what we did in when 384 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: North America UM was was impacted, and frankly then as 385 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: as China came back, everyone was able to come back 386 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: to work. All the lessons learned informed what we did. 387 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: So one of the things that has been a silver 388 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: lining from this tragic pandemic has been uh, you know, 389 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: I think in the past sometimes we'd have a mindset 390 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: of well, I'm different because I'm in this country, or 391 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: I'm different, you know, it's different here. Because that SRC 392 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 1: and this with this, everybody realized, you know, what they've 393 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,640 Speaker 1: you know, there's people who have experienced with this pandemic 394 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: and how it impacts the workplace and and work and 395 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: finances and on re aspect of the business. And so 396 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 1: the desire to learn and the outreach across just general 397 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: motors I thought was very very powerful and has has 398 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,479 Speaker 1: made us I think stronger. Uh. And so you know, 399 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: it was something very significant because when you're an automobile 400 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: company and you stopped making vehicles, it's pretty significant. And 401 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:34,199 Speaker 1: we're pretty capital intensive business, and so we had to 402 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: take dramatic action quickly of and went through a zero 403 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 1: based budgeting process to save money to make sure we 404 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: were going to be secured with all the unknowns that 405 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: you had in in March and April. Uh, and so 406 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: you know, we focused on those steps the minute we 407 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: had to shut our plants down. Though in the United 408 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: States that there was a team already starting to work 409 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: of what do we need to do to run and 410 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: also because we did have some essential services, how do 411 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:05,400 Speaker 1: we make sure we provide a a safe environment? So uh, 412 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: one of our our leaders kind of coined this phrase, 413 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: but he said, first it's lives, then it's livelihood, and 414 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: we're going to focus on lives and make sure we're 415 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: creating a safe environment, and then we'll focus on livelihoods 416 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: and that of the corporation. And that's what has guided 417 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: us through it um and and continues to this day. 418 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: Because I think we all sit not knowing will there'll 419 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: be will there be another spike, How will that be handled? 420 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: How long will it be till there's uh, you know, 421 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: medical treatments or a vaccine, And so you know, we're 422 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: we're doing a tremendous scenario planning of hoping for the best, 423 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: but being prepared for a less optimal outcome. And that's 424 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: how we're facing it. From a business perspective, I do 425 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: find it very impressive that, Yes, for a business like yours, 426 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: which requires manufacturing, which requires you know, um plants and 427 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 1: all kinds of operations that must keep going, to have 428 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: to pivot is a really big decision. I think after 429 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:16,120 Speaker 1: right after you shut down the North American operations UM, 430 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 1: the team began working with Ventech right to manufacture ventilators. 431 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: I mean that is that's a huge decision to make, 432 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: uh and and to to put into action. How did 433 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: that happen and how did you facilitate this type of 434 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: quick turnaround. Well, I think it really speaks to the 435 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: tremendous dedication of the General Motors team. I mean I 436 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 1: got a call from ken Chanel. The next day, some 437 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: of our leaders were talking to the leaders of Ventech. 438 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,880 Speaker 1: Then they were on a plane, and you know from 439 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: that first meeting that we had with Ventech. A month later, 440 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: we were producing ventilators. And to do that, we had 441 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:55,360 Speaker 1: to engage hundreds of our suppliers because we had to 442 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 1: find suppliers who could start making the parts. Because Ventech 443 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: at the time was it came between two and three 444 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: hundred ventilators a month, and we wanted to scale that 445 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: up to ten thousand a month. And so you know, 446 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: with that challenge, Um, you know, everybody just came to 447 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: the table because everybody realized and like I said, it 448 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: is just the dedication and the strength of the GM team. 449 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: People worked night and day because they knew they had 450 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: an opportunity to save lives and and that's what motivated them. 451 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: Our suppliers, many of our suppliers worked around the clock. 452 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: Uh as I you know, went and spent time and 453 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,120 Speaker 1: in Indiana at the factory and Cokeomo Indiana that was 454 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: making and still today is making ventilators. Everybody just did 455 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: what they needed to do, and um, you know, for 456 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: them it was incredibly empowering. But they knew every ventilator 457 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: menta potential life saved, and that was the mindset, and 458 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: you know, they just did they did what It took. 459 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 1: Our our head of manufacturing for North America. He he said. 460 00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 1: As they started the project on the plane right out 461 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: to Seattle's Um said, UM, you know, let's let's just 462 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: assume one of our family members who's going to need 463 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: event later. What would we do? That was the mindset, 464 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 1: and so I can take very little credit. I can 465 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: only be exceptionally proud. You're listening to Back to Biz 466 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 1: with Katie and Bows and when we come back, how 467 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: the pandemic altered the future of the GM car. Still 468 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:33,160 Speaker 1: living in and manually taking notes start the new year 469 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: with auto dot ai to generate automatic notes for meetings, interviews, 470 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: or lectures. With auto dot ai, you can search the 471 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: meeting notes, insert images, play back the audio, and share 472 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: them with your friends or coworkers. You can capture action items, 473 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: remember meeting details, and keep everyone informed. 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You can also 499 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: manage everything from one dashboard on desktop and mobile, so 500 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 1: you can be available anywhere at any time, in the office, 501 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:24,719 Speaker 1: at home, or on the go. I want to get started, 502 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: head over to Wicks dot com and create your website today. 503 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: That's w i X dot com. After three months of 504 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: closure to to COVID, nineteen, GM reopened its North American 505 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 1: facilities on and for businesses around the country looking to 506 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: do the same, the automaker may provide a peek at 507 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,719 Speaker 1: what's ahead. Our guest Mary bar tells us how that 508 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: process has gone and what business in this new normal 509 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: looks like. So far it has gone well, Uh, we 510 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 1: have protocols in place, and we took the time to 511 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 1: train our employees to answer all those questions, their questions 512 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: because recognizing everybody is coming from a different place as 513 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:09,960 Speaker 1: it relates to COVID. Some people don't know a single 514 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,280 Speaker 1: person who has even had the disease, and other people 515 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: have lost loved ones or have family members on the 516 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: front line. And so the training and the and the 517 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 1: work we did, and really one of the things we 518 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: shared with everybody is is we need to, you know, 519 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: show empathy because everybody's living this a little bit differently. 520 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:30,959 Speaker 1: And so as we welcomed everyone back, we put them 521 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 1: through the training. We also explained the why why do 522 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 1: you need to wear a mask? Why are we sanitizing, 523 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 1: why are we screening? And all those processes are working 524 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: for us right now. And you know, people, as I 525 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:44,479 Speaker 1: visited our facilities, people tell me I feel safer at 526 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 1: work than I do at the grocery store. And so 527 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: and we keep involving everyone into how can we make 528 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: it even better? And the ideas are great, and so 529 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 1: we just and once we have an idea coming from 530 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:59,200 Speaker 1: one facility, we spread it across the globe so everyone 531 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: can get better. So so far, so good. We're not 532 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: declaring victory, but it is working, UH, and we you know, 533 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: when our people have confidence that they are working in 534 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: a safe environment. I think the big unknown is will 535 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: this crisis change consumer habits? Will it change the way 536 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 1: people live? Will it change what they want? I'm just 537 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 1: wondering if this pandemic has shifted how you're looking at 538 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 1: the future and how you're predicting what your consumers are 539 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: going to actually want. We we've seen this as UH 540 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: and are trying to accelerate our move to electric vehicles 541 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 1: because we think that is a big part of the solution. 542 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: Even though it will happen over a period of time, 543 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: the sooner we provide affordable, desirable uh, electric vehicles, we 544 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 1: think we can start that transformation. So that's one of 545 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: the things we've tried to accelerate as we go through 546 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 1: this process. Um, you know, I think there's also an 547 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 1: interest with customers wanting to have their own vehicle, not 548 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: you know, being sure of public transport station. And then 549 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 1: we've also been listening to customers and doing customer clinics 550 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: to has what has changed and what are they looking 551 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: for in their vehicle. And it's early days in that 552 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: I think it will drive some change. I think people 553 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: will still want to have vehicles. I think autonomous offers 554 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 1: solutions even in in rides sharing because it's one less 555 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: dimension of another person being in the vehicle. So we 556 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: see you know, the transformation that we see happening in 557 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 1: mobility with especially electrifide vehicles and autonomous vehicles. We see that, Um, 558 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: we haven't changed our commitment and our intensity and moving 559 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: in that direction. We think it's actually an opportunity to accelerate. 560 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 1: Perhaps in closing are their thoughts that you have about 561 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 1: the your hope for the future and for recovery at 562 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,040 Speaker 1: this time that we could take away even as we 563 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: think about our own individual businesses or our own individual 564 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: jobs and how we oper eight and what that timeline 565 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 1: perhaps looks like. Well, I would say I'd offer two 566 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 1: kind of different perspectives. One within general motors, we've learned 567 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 1: how to do things with much less bureaucracy, to do 568 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 1: things faster, to empower people, uh, and they're going to 569 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: do great things and make great decisions. And you know, 570 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: the rare time something doesn't work out is not a 571 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: reason for when ninety percent of the time it's going 572 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: to So I think that's something I'm very excited about. 573 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 1: You know, as I look to the country and the 574 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 1: and the globe, I hope, especially in the United States, 575 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 1: as things are opening up, I hope people stay with 576 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 1: understanding the virus is still with us, and follow the 577 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: safety protocols and wear masks and practice social distancing. Because 578 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: if we can come through this without another uh uh, 579 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,920 Speaker 1: you know, Spike, I think it's gonna be so important 580 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: for the economy and for everyone's life from a livelihood perspective. 581 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: So that's my hope that we all are responsible as 582 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 1: we go through these next several months to get to 583 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:01,959 Speaker 1: the other side. It must be hard to run a 584 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: big company like GM with so many uncertainties looming in 585 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 1: the future. So um, I don't envy you, but I 586 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 1: do admire you. Mary, I have a great team. I 587 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: have a great team. Well, You're always quick to give 588 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 1: them credit, which I think is part of the reason 589 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 1: behind your success. Mary, Bara, thank you so much for 590 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: spending time with us today. Thank you for the opportunity. 591 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:28,239 Speaker 1: I have to say I've learned a lot and I've 592 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:31,399 Speaker 1: really enjoyed the conversation, So thank you both. Thank you 593 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:39,799 Speaker 1: hashtag goals and that does it for this episode of 594 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 1: Back to Biz with Katie and Bows. If you're not already, 595 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:45,239 Speaker 1: you can subscribe to the podcast on the I Heart 596 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 597 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: favorite shows, and please do everyone, and you can find 598 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: more about all the cool people were talking to, as 599 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 1: well as our favorite moments from these episodes on our 600 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 1: Instagram feeds and stories. We're all about the Graham Until 601 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,440 Speaker 1: next time, everyone, I'm Katie Couric and I'm bozemas St. 602 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,200 Speaker 1: John and this is Back to Biz with Katie and Bos. 603 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:10,880 Speaker 1: Thank you everyone for listening, and we'll talk to you 604 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:19,320 Speaker 1: next time. Back to Biz with Katie and Bows is 605 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio and Katie Currik Media. 606 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: The executive producers are Katie Currik, Bozma St John, and 607 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:30,320 Speaker 1: Courtney Litz. The supervising producer is Lauren Hansen. The associate 608 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 1: producers are Derek Clements, Eliza Costas and Emily Pinto. Editing 609 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 1: by Derrek Clements and Lauren Hansen, Mixing by Derrek Clements. 610 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,840 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Adriana Fasio. For more information about today's episode, 611 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: go to Katie Kirk dot com. You can also follow 612 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:50,760 Speaker 1: Katie Kurik and Bozma St John on Twitter and Instagram. 613 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from My Heart Radio, visit the I 614 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:56,319 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to 615 00:35:56,360 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: your favorite shows. BA