#234: Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors – Seek the truth

Seek truth was really our message to the entire company. Don't just give us something that optimizes your area. But it was that frustration of decisions coming to us that weren't the whole truth because they didn't look at it from an enterprise perspective. Let's get to the truth, not what someone wants it to be. What is it?

How can you demonstrate it with information, data and information so we can make the very best decision quickly? Hey, when you're leading at the highest level, there's one thing you can't afford to lose sight of. Welcome to How Leaders Lead. I'm David Novak and every week I have conversations with the very best leaders in the world to help you become the best leader that you can be. My guest today is Mary Berra, the chair and CEO of General Motors.

She started working at GM when she was just 18 years old, inspecting fenders and bumpers no less. And today, she's leading the company through one of the biggest transformations in automotive history. And you know what really impresses me about Mary? It's her relentless commitment to seek the truth, to push for clarity and intellectual honesty as she and her team make decisions. Unfortunately, a lot of leaders end up making decisions based on assumptions, or wishful thinking, or just the spin of internal politics.

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