Author: Martina

For many years, industry has been predominantly man’s business. The automakers were no exception. The leading car manufacturers are still mainly men. In the case of General Motors, however, this is not the case. The American group is the first major car company where a woman has ever been put in charge. Mary Barra has been in charge of the US automotive giant General Motors since 2014. At the time, there was no other woman at the head of the world’s great automobile. The daughter of Finnish-born parents has thus become the first woman in the history to occupy the position of head of one of the leading cars. However, her entry into GM leadership has not only brought women to historic heights. At the same time, it also raised the issue of gender equality which has been taboo in this area for many years. At General Motors, she has been active since she was a young woman.  The Executive Director and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors have been active in the company, which she has managed for several years, since she was 18 years old. As a student, she grew up in it in the fender control section. After completion of the study, a number of engineering and administrative positions were replaced in the GM. At the beginning of 2008, she was promoted to Vice-President who she was for six years old. After that, the promotion to the position of head of the entire automobile company followed. The woman in charge of GM after over 100 years Once the world’s largest automobile manufacturer, has a history of over 100 years. It was founded back in 1908, when it had a number of names on its board. Mary Barra is the last person to be in charge. The first female name appeared in the leadership of an American automobile company 106 years after its founding. As the world-class car companies had never driven women anywhere in the world before, Mary’s appearance prompted questions. However, the first female GM in top management to criticism, from those who did not like giving a woman the top job, quickly quieted down with above-average work results. Women in Action join their forces with Female Factor The emphasis on innovation and the move to a higher level Mary Barra, after starting leading the office, immediately began to fulfill great visions. Shortly after the takeover, the company announced an emphasis on innovation, which was to bring a new corporate philosophy and redistribute influence among section managers. Innovation has also been given a green light in the development and use of modern technologies and the production of new components. At the same time, the car company announced billions in investment in electromobility. Mary Barra is not hiding the fact that by 2035 she wants to stop the production of cars with internal combustion engines. There are also other ‘ green ’ targets, such as the 100% use of electricity from renewable energy sources in GM plants. Top pay of car´s CEOs Mary confirmed the ability of women to run the car business from the start at the head of GM. It wasn’t long before she was declared the most powerful manager on the planet shortly after taking over. In addition, managers such as Ginni Rometty (IBM) and Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo) are also in the ranking. However, it was not only women’s competition that was successful. In 2016, she also became the best paid boss in the car industry. Her annual income, including various compensations, amounted to EUR 22.6 million. This was more than in the case of the head of Ford or the head of the FCA.  Mary Barra has also done a great deal of work in the area of promoting gender equality. The very assumption of the job of GM head was an inspiration to many women working in the automotive industry. Mary, however, was not satisfied with her status as an aspiring personality. From the position of leader of the car company, which until recently was exclusively a man’s job, she began to encourage women to be assertive and to try to gain influence in this area as well. Photo source on cover:www.pixabay.com

As far as networking is concerned, there is still no substitute for face-to-face meetings. Sarah Weller reveals how her participation in networking has helped to forge valuable new contacts, and offers some good advice on how to make the most of networking opportunities. “I became what I would call a serial non-worker. In any given month, I can go to a number of networking breakfasts, a number of evening events, a trade show or two, and training where possible. I never realized how many networking groups there were in Bristol until I really got into it. There are many ways in which you can meet other small entrepreneurs, from breakfast at work to bank shares. There is something on the menu for everyone if you know where to look, ” says Sarah Weller. She further clarifies: “LinkedIn is a great way to connect with groups of people and learn about meetings. I also ask people where they network and I often find out about new meeting places.“ Why to network? “Simply, if people don’t know who you are and what you can do, they never call you. Yes, you can advertise, but that doesn’t give you a chance to learn about your customers, build long-term relationships and have a good talk. The point is that you see these people often enough to build a relationship – so you are selling your business not just to the people you meet, but to all their clients.“ “I like it, too! It’s true that I don’t always get into my car for breakfast at 6: 45 with a smile on my face but I do get in it right after my morning tea. As a small entrepreneur, you can easily become completely isolated and self-absorbed. It’s always good to get a second opinion, find out what others are doing and what’s new, otherwise you might find yourself left behind.“ Quote of the Day from Trish Bertuzzi Tips on how to make the most out of networking Let people talk about themselves first, so you know how to adapt what you say about your company to suit them.  Don’t just tell people what you do, hundreds of people can do exactly the same thing. Tell people why they should give a chance to you. And think about that in an innovative way. Do not use phrases like ‘ best / fastest / most effective / creative ’. On the other hand, if you say something like ‘ we have made it possible to improve the customer satisfaction rating by 55% ’, it is worth listening to.  Don’t be afraid to take examples from your work if it helps to explain it.  Don’t give up because you didn’t get the deal the first time. Networking is about building long-term relationships – it is not a quick fix.  Always have business cards and lots of pieces – you’d be surprised how many people come without them.  Be memorable.  Listen to the others and show that you’re listening. If you play with the phone while they’re talking, they’ll be less willing to listen.  If appropriate, then send them personalized emails – but do not spread spam. Do not turn your attention off just because you cannot sell to the person you are talking to – you may have a network of contacts and clients that can be useful.  Don’t be afraid if you happen to be sitting next to a competitor. Talk about your differences – perhaps there is a business relationship that needs to be developed through the sharing of skills.  Use case studies to reach out to actual customers. Give your work context. It makes him a lot more memorable.  Try not to read the paper. Have confidence in your business – no one knows that better than you. Don’t just stay with people you know. Obviously, you want to build relationships, so spend a little time talking about how they’re doing and reminisce about them, but then move on. Don’t sit at the table where you know everybody, they’ve already heard your two minutes. Go where you don’t know anyone, you can get more.  The most important thing to remember, if you’re nervous about talking, is that everyone sitting around the table might feel the same way, and they’re just glad that you’re talking instead of them!

Get inspired and share our Quotes on Linkedin as well. Do you know Trish Bertuzzi? She is the Author of “The Sales Development Playbook” | CEO at The Bridge Group.  Let’s connect on Linkedin Trish founded The Bridge Group. The Bridge Group is helping B2B technology companies build world-class Inside Sales teams. Since 1998, she has helped over 400+ companies build, expand and optimize Sales Development and Inside Sales – building pipeline, generating revenue and redefining the image of the profession. In 2016 she expanded their service offerings to include Account Based Revenue (ABR) services. With this service she help companies launch strategies that drive bigger deals in bigger companies. Trish is the Author of The Sales Development Playbook available on Amazon. Voted in as a LinkedIn Top Sales Voice in 2018 and 2019