Why is it that every time General Motors CEO Mary Barra's name is mentioned, "the first female CEO of a major car company" is always tacked on? Pardon my French, but who gives a shit what her gender is?
When I buy a car, I want a GOOD CAR. (Actually I want a great car.) I don't care if the CEO is young, old, a snappy dresser, a slob, bald, hairy, or has to gum their bologna sandwich. I don't buy or not buy anything because of the CEO. If he/she can put together a team that can make a superior product, or perform a superior service, kudos to them! Here's my money.
His or her integrity is important to me, but I think that will inevitably show through in their product. And I research things well enough before I buy that I'm pretty sure I can avoid buying crappy stuff from thieving companies.
Now here's where I get controversial: I don't necessarily believe in staffing based on demographics. I don't believe they must have a certain percentage of their workforce white, black, young, old, male, female, or anything else. This is often made into a racial or gender (and now sexual preference) equality issue, but I truly believe a good CEO running a top-notch company will hire THE BEST people he/she can find.
As Martin Luther King said, it's all about the content of their character, not the color of their skin (or their gender, or their age, etc). If a company wants to preserve their "good old boy" mentality it will show, and customers will drift towards progressive companies that hire the best people and produce the best products. I believe the corporate knuckle draggers are steadily losing their grip on the Ivory Towers.
So if Mary Barra wants me to buy a GM car, she'll have to produce one that is better than what I can buy elsewhere. Her novelty means nothing to me.
S
There you go again Scott. When will you realize that making sense has no place in a political commentary!
ReplyDeleteAmen and ditto.
ReplyDeleteHer novelty doesn't mean much to me either, but in all fairness this problem has been going on for years, much longer than the short period of time Ms. Barra has been at the helm. Why aren't the CEOs who actually signed off on these defective ignition switches sitting beside her in front of Congress? They're the ones who actually killed people, and they should face the consequences.
ReplyDeleteNo, I agree. GM's current problems are nothing of Mary Barra's doing. I'm just pointing out that her gender should be totally irrelevant.
DeleteI guess that is part of the job she accepted, however if this goes to criminal charges which it probably should, then those in charge at the time if they knew and did nothing should all be liable.
DeleteScott, I'm pretty sure that the CEO's last name is actually "The first female CEO of a major car company."
ReplyDeleteSo she's Mary Thefirstfemaleceoofamajorcarcompany? Sheesh....I'd go with "Barra" too.
DeleteI may be the first Nobel prize winner locked in a non-winner's body to agree with you, but I absolutely do.
ReplyDeleteIt should be all about content of character but most of the time it isn't.
ReplyDelete