Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council, praised Barra’s approach to business, noting that she operates on the principle that corporate success and social progress act as powerful partners rather than competing goals. Barra, who joined GM in 1980 as a co-op student, has held the CEO position since 2014 and the role of Chair since 2016, overseeing a historic transition in the company’s manufacturing focus.

General Motors has maintained a relationship with the Ad Council since 1947, collaborating on major initiatives such as the COVID-19 Vaccine Education campaign. Barra emphasized that the company’s mission extends beyond vehicle production, pointing to recent investments like a $50 million educational commitment in Michigan as part of their broader community strategy. The upcoming gala, co-chaired by Kirk McDonald and Lin-Hua Wu, serves as the organization’s primary fundraising event, which generated $10 million in 2025 to support national social impact campaigns.