General Motors CEO Mary Barra says she still responds to 'every single letter' by hand despite running a $74,000,000,000 business
Published on Jan 28, 2026 at 6:42 AM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Jan 27, 2026 at 8:27 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Mary Barra, the General Motors CEO, is the ultimate female leader, making history as the first to become the big boss of the Big Three, and it seems she hasn’t let her change her.
Despite the motor company making billions of dollars per year, she still has a rather personal touch that she delivers to fans.
She shared the news at a New York Times event in December, shocking gearheads worldwide.
She first became the CEO in 2014, but her journey into the auto sphere actually began decades before.
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General Motors and its CEO: Here’s what you need to know
Mary Barra made automotive history when she became the CEO of General Motors in 2014.
But before she reached the role of CEO, she was heavily involved in product development, design, and engineering.
Under Mary Barra, General Motors said that it has high hopes and aims to enter into a sphere where no crashes occur, it saves lives, and creates a level of zero emissions.
In line with the advancements in technology, she is also working to create autonomous cars at General Motors and more electric cars that will hit the production line in the years to come.
The car corporation houses brands such as GMC, Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet, but it turns out that the CEO has more of a hands-on approach to running the business than you’d first think.
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Mary Barra responds to fans in a heartfelt way
Many of us have most likely written to or tried to contact someone in a position of power, not expecting a reply, but the General Motors CEO says she does things differently.
Speaking at The New York Times DealBook Summit, she revealed that fans often send her letters that have both positive and negative contents
“I get [letters] from customers … when their odometer turns over to 200, 300, 400.
“I also get letters from consumers who are unhappy about something, and I respond to every single letter I receive. To me, this is such a special business.”
She also mentioned that she began her career as a co-op student in 1980, proving she worked her way up through sheer hard work and determination.
So there you go, if you find yourself impressed at the Corvette ZR1’s track times or a new Cadillac’s features, you could express your gratitude in a letter and receive a reply.
Now, that sure is impressive.
Maybe some other CEOs could learn a thing or two from Mary Barra
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Beginning her career as a lifestyle reporter and social-media manager, Grace joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025. Since coming on board, she has thrown herself into the busy daily writing schedule. Her editorial sweet spots include writing about luxury properties and the quirky features inside them that the one percent are investing in, as well as groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.
