On the Right TRACK features the success stories of early career talent and leaders who began their journeys through GM’s TRACK (Technical Rotation and Career Knowledge) Program.
The TRACK Program is more than an early career opportunity. It’s the first chapter in a leadership story.
For Barbara Scabello, that story began with a lifelong admiration for General Motors and a defining moment on the shop floor. The first time she walked into a GM plant and felt the energy of the assembly line, she knew she found where she belonged.
Designed to accelerate growth and expand perspective, TRACK immersed Barbara in multiple areas of the business while challenging her with real responsibility. Those early rotations shaped the leader she would become.
Today, as South America Safety Manager for Manufacturing, Barbara leads Workplace Safety for more than 10,000 employees across four countries. Her journey from TRACK employee to regional leader is a powerful example of what can happen when purpose, learning, and care for people guide a career at GM.
Step inside Barbara’s journey and hear how the TRACK Program shaped the leader she is today.
What first sparked your interest in General Motors?
I’ve always been an admirer of the Chevrolet brand. My parents always owned Chevrolet cars, and my family lived in the region where GM’s century-old plant is located in São Caetano do Sul.
I come from a family of proud engineers. My father, mother, and sister have always worked in the industry. When I passed by the plant, I would imagine what it would be like to work there.
Barbara (right) meets with Sacha Oliveira (left) at GM’s São Caetano Plant, where the two connected as newly appointed leads for the South America Women’s ERG.
How did the TRACK Program become part of your early career journey?
In 2017, I was already in a leadership position at another company, but I was thinking long-term. Where would I truly be happy? The TRACK Program represented this opportunity for me.
Through the program’s rotations, I knew I would have a much faster learning curve. I would be exposed to diverse challenges in a shorter period of time. That deeply moved me, and that’s why I chose GM.
I still remember my first day entering the plant. I got goosebumps when I saw the assembly line. I fell in love with the shop floor immediately.
To this day, I feel at home working here.
How did your TRACK experience help shape the leader you are today?
Technical skills are easy for me to learn. You study, you practice, you apply. But soft skills are built through experience by dealing with different people, situations, and challenges.
Three pillars from TRACK still guide me today: continuous learning, humility, and care for people.
Can you describe these three pillars for us?
Continuous learning is one of the main drivers of the TRACK experience. Everyone has something to teach me. The more diverse my learning is, the more versatile I become as a professional.
Humility means listening more than speaking. I like to understand processes by talking to the people who actually work with them before I suggest any improvements.
And what about “care for people”?
Care for people is essential.
During my second TRACK rotation, I led 90 people on the assembly line. I was only 26 years old. I made time to talk to each person, understand their aspirations, and build career plans with them.
To lead is to serve. That’s something I truly believe.
Barbara (center) with Press Shop Forklift Operator Raquel Silva (left) and Production Group Leader Priscila Loiola (right) during a safety observation tour to GM’s São Caetano Plant.
You’ve worked across engineering, manufacturing, strategy, and safety. How did TRACK’s rotational structure shape the way you navigate cross-functional teams today?
The rotational structure gave me the opportunity to operate at multiple levels — from engineering projects to plant leadership, commercial roles, and even reporting directly to the Vice President and Executive Directors.
This accelerated my business maturity. I learned how to tailor my communication and deliverables to different audiences, ensuring clarity and impact.
It also expanded my internal network significantly, which continues to help me collaborate effectively across the organization.
Was there a defining moment during TRACK when you realized, “I can lead here”?
Yes. My rotation as a group leader on the plant floor.
I was one of only a few women, and I led six different areas in one and a half years.
I was responsible for everything: Safety, People, Quality, Productivity, Costs, Sustainability. This was during a period of intense change and new product launches.
Change management skills were essential. This included conflict management, emotional intelligence, managerial courage, and adaptability. That experience exposed me to an incredible range of challenges.
It was the moment I truly felt confident that I could lead here.
Barbara takes a moment to look back at her time working as a General Assembly Group Leader and on her journey toward leading a Regional Safety team.
You now oversee Workplace Safety for thousands of employees across South America. How did your early operational roles prepare you to lead at this scale?
Working on the shop floor allowed me to understand the reality of operations: what works, what doesn’t. How communication flows, and how procedures become actions.
Today, as a corporate leader developing safety solutions for the plants, I always think from the customer’s perspective.
My goal is for people to enjoy talking about safety and follow procedures because they understand their purpose — not just because it’s mandatory.
Having worked in Germany, the Netherlands, and across South America, how has global experience shaped the way you lead?
I combine the warmth and communication of Brazilian culture with the organization, discipline, and planning I learned from German and Dutch cultures. I truly believe diverse experiences and perspectives enrich every environment. I work intentionally to understand each group and ensure everyone is included.
Barbara celebrates GM Brazil’s 100th anniversary at the São Caetano do Sul Tech Center with the GMSA Safety Team.
What personal values guide the way you build trust across diverse manufacturing operations?
Integrity and, again, humility. The willingness to listen and learn. These values enable me to build trust, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change across all levels of the organization.
Which accomplishment are you most proud of in your safety leadership journey?
Leading the implementation of automation equipment that eliminates extremely high-risk tasks on the shop floor.
I’m responsible for prioritizing Safety investment projects across the region, and we conduct detailed risk analyses to ensure we’re making the decisions that truly protect people.
Knowing that GM trusts me with this responsibility — and seeing the real impact on people’s lives — makes me incredibly proud.
Barbara (left) alongside colleagues at the GM Ride & Run event celebrating 100 years of GM in Brazil.
How did your time as a strategic business planner to the Manufacturing Vice President shape your perspective?
It helped me understand how GM’s areas interconnect and how global strategy becomes regional reality. I was responsible for short, medium, and long-term business plans for Manufacturing, which strengthened my strategic thinking and expanded my network exponentially.
With your wealth of different experiences, how do you approach building environments where people can thrive?
Everything is about people and how to create an environment where everyone feels included and can do their best work.
For example, I learned Brazilian Sign Language to better support deaf colleagues and helped mentor female team leaders in General Assembly.
This year, I was honored to become Chair of the GMSA Women’s ERG. These experiences allow me to create safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Barbara with her pet dog Nina, whom she adopted after volunteering at a local animal rescue in 2017.
What excites you most about the future of safety in manufacturing?
Artificial Intelligence, predictive analytics, and automation. These tools allow us to anticipate risks and eliminate exposure before incidents happen. GM is already leading in this space, and I’m excited about what’s next.
What is one lesson from TRACK you still return to as a leader?
Versatility. A versatile professional is adaptable, resilient, accountable, and has a holistic vision. The more you understand how different areas connect, the more valuable you become.
Outside of work, what helps you recharge?
I love pets, sports, yoga, and meditation. And I’m proud that GM supports initiatives like Pet Day. It’s another example of how the company cares about people as whole humans.
What advice would you give to early-career employees or TRACK participants?
Enjoy the journey. Be patient. Keep learning.
The rotations are what make TRACK special. They expand your comfort zone and your perspective.
Plant your seeds. The fruits will come.
Why do you love working at GM?
The culture. It aligns with my values. It’s not forced — it’s genuine.
That’s why I come to work at GM every day.
Want to get on the right TRACK at GM? Visit our TRACK program page.
Discover more stories in this series:
- On the Right TRACK: Zachariah Abdulnour thinks like a leader
- On the Right TRACK: Tahmidul Alam’s speed run into Motorsports
- On the Right TRACK: Tony Cochiaro’s Fast Break into Finance
- On the Right TRACK: Brooklyn Wandle
- On the Right TRACK: Haleigh DeForest
- On the Right TRACK: Hunter Bondy
- On the Right TRACK: Jonathan Crow
