By Jenn McKeogh, senior manager, GM News
Every five years, Automotive News publishes a list of the 100 Leading Women in the North American auto industry. General Motors is proud to have eight of our leaders included in the 2025 edition, including GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra, who has been on the list for 20 years.
“The women featured in this issue are inspiring tomorrow's leaders – the problem solvers, inventors, and engineers who will shape the future of our industry,” Barra says. “The opportunity to drive meaningful change has never been greater and I’m honored to be on this journey with all of you.”
Read on to learn more about the other seven female leaders recognized by Automotive News for their contributions to the industry.
Jamie Brewer: Executive Chief Engineer, Battery Electric Trucks
Jamie Brewer’s 25 years at GM have included roles across Engineering, Quality, and Program Leadership. Since 2018, she’s been focused on advancing GM’s vision for an all-electric future by leading vehicle development and launches across our EV portfolio, including the Cadillac LYRIQ, the best-selling vehicle in its class in 2024 (1) and continued leader in 2025. Brewer recently led a cross-functional team that helped develop GM’s robust Battery Electric Truck portfolio, from vehicle engineering to launch and manufacturing. Now, Brewer is responsible for improving organizational efficiency and reducing vehicle program and manufacturing complexities. She also has a passion for mentoring people in all stages of their education and careers.
Mandi Damman: Executive Chief Engineer, Autonomous and Electric Vehicles
Mandi Damman began her career at General Motors in 2003 as a co-op student. Most recently, she was appointed Executive Chief Engineer, Autonomous and Electric Vehicles. Damman leads the company’s cross-functional engineering teams responsible for executing the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle and for integration of autonomous technologies into other future GM vehicle programs. Damman is helping ensure GM’s vision for an autonomous, all-electric future can become a reality, leveraging teams in both Detroit and Silicon Valley.
Doneen McDowell: Vice President, Truck Sector
Doneen McDowell has worked in the auto industry for 31 years, with roles across five GM plants as Plant Director, Executive Director of Manufacturing Engineering, and Vice President of Labor. As GM’s current Vice President of the Truck Sector, McDowell has responsibilities across five GM North American ICE truck and SUV plants. Under her leadership, GM’s truck teams have remained laser focused on optimizing our manufacturing footprint to drive cost efficiency and meet market demand. She also serves as a mentor to others across manufacturing.
Jaclyn McQuaid: Global Vice President, Buick-GMC
Jaclyn McQuaid began her GM tenure in 2000 as a test engineer at the Milford Proving Ground, the company’s test facility northwest of Detroit. During the course of her career, McQuaid has held roles within engineering, purchasing, and product - including positions as Chief and Executive Chief Engineer across our world-class vehicle portfolio. McQuaid was named President of GM Europe in 2022 and assumed her current role as Global Vice President of Buick and GMC in 2024. She exemplifies effective leadership in her responsibilities for both brands, which continue to see exceptional performance across the globe.
Susan Sheffield: President and CEO, GM Financial
Susan Sheffield currently serves as President and CEO of GM Financial, a role she assumed in April 2025. She has 35 years of automotive industry experience, with 24 of those years spent at GM Financial, which she joined in 2001. Sheffield’s decades of experience include roles as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, treasurer, Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance, and more. Throughout her career, Sheffield has championed financial literacy education, including KEYS® by GM Financial, the company’s financial wellness program.
Alicia del Valle Soto: Ramos Plant Executive Director
Alicia del Valle Soto has been in leadership roles at GM for more than 36 years, among other things serving as the first Mexican woman to hold the position of Plant Director for GM Mexico operations. In 2019, she was appointed Executive Director of the Ramos Arizpe Assembly Plant, GM Mexico’s first EV manufacturing facility. Soto has broad expertise across GM Mexico’s manufacturing footprint and previously led the GM San Luis Potosi and Toluca manufacturing sites as well as responsibilities for GM Mexico quality and logistics. She has long been a leader and pioneer in the automotive industry.
Kristin Toth: Executive Director, Electrical Systems, Software and Connectivity, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain
Across her 27 years at GM, Kristin Toth has served as a cross-functional leader and role model throughout the company and in the Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organization. In 2020, she was named Executive Director of Electrical Systems, Software and Connectivity, leading the industry’s top supplier relationships for GM’s current and future global product portfolio. Toth led GM’s strategic supplier strategy throughout the pandemic era shortages of semiconductors and other products, while also developing new innovative models to secure supply for the company. Her authentic, innovative leadership style is helping move GM’s supply chain and industry forward.
Learn more about women across GM’s footprint – from manufacturing to engineering:
1 Based on S&P Global Mobility January 2024 - September 2024 new total mid-size luxury electric vehicle SUV registrations.
Every five years, Automotive News publishes a list of the 100 Leading Women in the North American auto industry. General Motors is proud to have eight of our leaders included in the 2025 edition, including GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra, who has been on the list for 20 years.
“The women featured in this issue are inspiring tomorrow's leaders – the problem solvers, inventors, and engineers who will shape the future of our industry,” Barra says. “The opportunity to drive meaningful change has never been greater and I’m honored to be on this journey with all of you.”
Read on to learn more about the other seven female leaders recognized by Automotive News for their contributions to the industry.
Jamie Brewer: Executive Chief Engineer, Battery Electric Trucks
Jamie Brewer’s 25 years at GM have included roles across Engineering, Quality, and Program Leadership. Since 2018, she’s been focused on advancing GM’s vision for an all-electric future by leading vehicle development and launches across our EV portfolio, including the Cadillac LYRIQ, the best-selling vehicle in its class in 2024 (1) and continued leader in 2025. Brewer recently led a cross-functional team that helped develop GM’s robust Battery Electric Truck portfolio, from vehicle engineering to launch and manufacturing. Now, Brewer is responsible for improving organizational efficiency and reducing vehicle program and manufacturing complexities. She also has a passion for mentoring people in all stages of their education and careers.
Mandi Damman: Executive Chief Engineer, Autonomous and Electric Vehicles
Mandi Damman began her career at General Motors in 2003 as a co-op student. Most recently, she was appointed Executive Chief Engineer, Autonomous and Electric Vehicles. Damman leads the company’s cross-functional engineering teams responsible for executing the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle and for integration of autonomous technologies into other future GM vehicle programs. Damman is helping ensure GM’s vision for an autonomous, all-electric future can become a reality, leveraging teams in both Detroit and Silicon Valley.
Doneen McDowell: Vice President, Truck Sector
Doneen McDowell has worked in the auto industry for 31 years, with roles across five GM plants as Plant Director, Executive Director of Manufacturing Engineering, and Vice President of Labor. As GM’s current Vice President of the Truck Sector, McDowell has responsibilities across five GM North American ICE truck and SUV plants. Under her leadership, GM’s truck teams have remained laser focused on optimizing our manufacturing footprint to drive cost efficiency and meet market demand. She also serves as a mentor to others across manufacturing.
Jaclyn McQuaid: Global Vice President, Buick-GMC
Jaclyn McQuaid began her GM tenure in 2000 as a test engineer at the Milford Proving Ground, the company’s test facility northwest of Detroit. During the course of her career, McQuaid has held roles within engineering, purchasing, and product - including positions as Chief and Executive Chief Engineer across our world-class vehicle portfolio. McQuaid was named President of GM Europe in 2022 and assumed her current role as Global Vice President of Buick and GMC in 2024. She exemplifies effective leadership in her responsibilities for both brands, which continue to see exceptional performance across the globe.
Susan Sheffield: President and CEO, GM Financial
Susan Sheffield currently serves as President and CEO of GM Financial, a role she assumed in April 2025. She has 35 years of automotive industry experience, with 24 of those years spent at GM Financial, which she joined in 2001. Sheffield’s decades of experience include roles as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, treasurer, Executive Vice President of Corporate Finance, and more. Throughout her career, Sheffield has championed financial literacy education, including KEYS® by GM Financial, the company’s financial wellness program.
Alicia del Valle Soto: Ramos Plant Executive Director
Alicia del Valle Soto has been in leadership roles at GM for more than 36 years, among other things serving as the first Mexican woman to hold the position of Plant Director for GM Mexico operations. In 2019, she was appointed Executive Director of the Ramos Arizpe Assembly Plant, GM Mexico’s first EV manufacturing facility. Soto has broad expertise across GM Mexico’s manufacturing footprint and previously led the GM San Luis Potosi and Toluca manufacturing sites as well as responsibilities for GM Mexico quality and logistics. She has long been a leader and pioneer in the automotive industry.
Kristin Toth: Executive Director, Electrical Systems, Software and Connectivity, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain
Across her 27 years at GM, Kristin Toth has served as a cross-functional leader and role model throughout the company and in the Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organization. In 2020, she was named Executive Director of Electrical Systems, Software and Connectivity, leading the industry’s top supplier relationships for GM’s current and future global product portfolio. Toth led GM’s strategic supplier strategy throughout the pandemic era shortages of semiconductors and other products, while also developing new innovative models to secure supply for the company. Her authentic, innovative leadership style is helping move GM’s supply chain and industry forward.
Learn more about women across GM’s footprint – from manufacturing to engineering:
- Meet four women powering GM’s all-electric future
- Off the Clock: Hillary Lange, plant manager…and farmer
1Based on S&P Global Mobility January 2024 - September 2024 new total mid-size luxury electric vehicle SUV registrations.