General Motors executive Mary Barra was tapped as the auto behemoth’s next CEO. When she takes over the reins after current CEO Dan Akerson’s retirement in January, she’ll be the first woman to run a global auto company. Here’s how she got there.

General Motors executive Mary Barra was tapped as the auto behemoth’s next CEO. When she takes over the reins after current CEO Dan Akerson’s retirement in January, she’ll be the first woman to run a global auto company. Here’s how she got there.