Dive Brief:
- General Motors is working to shift its culture to become more of a tech innovator and incubator.
- GM CEO Mary Barra tells Fast Company she is on a mission to reinvent the company and wants to attract tech talent to help it get there.
- Part of the journey included the purchase of Cruise Automation, an autonomous systems startup, last spring for $581 million.
Dive Insight:
As the technology revolution continues, savvy companies realize they must change or risk being left behind. Like many companies, GM's business is about to change radically due to technology disruptions such as autonomous vehicles, ride sharing services and the digitization of just about everything. In response, Barra recently launched a series of initiatives to help shake things up, including a project wherein 30 millennials were chosen to help energize and disrupt GM’s culture. Over 1,000 employees now participate in the program in a variety of ways.
GM is also hiring. According to Fast Company, the car maker wants to bring in about 15,000 new full-time employees this year, including many engineers.
General Electric is another old-school company has been on a mission to reinvent itself, launching a major PR campaign and raising salaries to attract top tech talent. GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt has been working to pivot the 124-year old industrial company for the digital age. Its stand-alone software unit, established in 2015, now has more than 28,000 employees.
