If you work in the automotive business, you know the importance – and status – that comes with the role of chief engineer. These professionals lead the charge in the development of new vehicles and technologies, ensuring high standards and groundbreaking advancements.
At General Motors, the engineering team behind Chevrolet’s entire all-electric vehicle portfolio is led by four talented women, two of them Kelley MBA alums.
Together, they exemplify how women in science, technology, engineering, art, and math – or STEAM – are shaping the next generation of automobiles.
? Kelley MBA'07 alum Marisa Cullens, Chief Engineer, Chevy Blazer EV, began her automotive career at Kettering University, formerly the General Motors Institute, where she first experienced what a GM career at GM could be.
“My grandfather worked for GM as a chief engineer, and also went to GMI. Growing up, my dad always told me about my grandfather’s rewarding GM career. I don’t think he ever had any idea how closely I would be following in his footsteps.”
Cullens went on to earn an MBA from Indiana University - Kelley School of Business, setting her up for a diverse career with roles in body and exterior engineering, safety performance, and validation, as well as corporate accounting.
She joined GM's program team in 2019, where she spent time living in Shanghai, while traveling frequently to Yantai, Seoul, Ramos, and San Luis Potosi to launch GM's vehicles.
? Kelley MBA'16 Kristin Cermak, Chief Engineer, Chevy Equinox EV, has deep family roots in the automotive industry stemming from her mom and grandparents. Her 17-year career at GM includes three summers as an intern while earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in global automotive manufacturing engineering. She later earned her MBA from Indiana University - Kelley School of Business.
Cermak has held numerous roles across manufacturing engineering, operations, product engineering and GM’s aerodynamic and climatic wind tunnels. She’s supported vehicle launches across the Chevy portfolio, including the Chevy Volt, Silverado, and Corvette C8.
“It’s so rewarding to see a vehicle you worked on driving down the road and know you had a part in bringing it to the customer, our customers are the reason I do what I do every day.”
In 2021, Cermak became chief engineer in global electric propulsion systems, working on GM’s EV battery platforms.
