Mary Barra GM CEO

Arguably the darling of the Detroit auto show isn't one of the fancy new cars but Mary Barra [nee Makela], first female CEO of GM and, I think, any auto maker. Whenever she is seen she is trailed by an entourage of reporters.

This is a Michigan, Detroit and human feel-good story too. She has risen from working class, her dad was a tool maker for Pontiac, and began her academic career as a work-study program student at Kettering where she obtained an engineering degree.

She then began an ascent through the GM hierarchy, that included a stint as plant manager of the Detroit Hamtramck Plant, was married and had a couple of kids along the way, lives in Northville and finally breaks through the glass ceiling to head the world's most famous auto corporation.

What a great story. Congrats Mary Barra and good luck!