Last Tuesday, GM’s board named Mary Barra, a 33-year company veteran, as its next CEO, making her the first woman to lead a major car company.

Barra replaces Dan Akerson, who moved up retirement plans by several months to help his wife, Karin, battle advanced cancer.

When Barra starts her new job on January 15, she will lead a company that’s made nearly $20 billion since emerging from bankruptcy in 2010, much of it from the cars and trucks she helped develop. But she still faces challenges…read more by clicking here.