Here’s how a lifelong dancer found her footing in GM’s fast-moving world of global logistics.
On the Right TRACK features the stories of early career talent and leaders who began their journeys through GM’s TRACK (Technical Rotation and Career Knowledge) Program.
The music is different, but the rhythm is the same.
For Mackenzie Michalak, the discipline she learned in dance now shapes the demanding pace of global logistics. Timing matters. Trust carries weight. Each decision helps keep production on track.
Now, in GM’s TRACK program, she works inside Global Purchasing and Supply Chain (GPSC). That’s an environment where the tempo never settles. Priorities shift. New challenges appear without notice. But Mackenzie keeps teams aligned and the work steady.
Step by step, she’s learning how coordinated movement becomes leadership. And that kind of footwork is building a successful future career.
Follow Mackenzie’s journey as she brings the spirit of dance to the future of global logistics.
You’ve experienced GM as a Student Corps intern, a GPSC intern, and now a TRACK employee. What drew you to the program after graduation?
Growing up in Michigan, the automotive world always felt close to home. When I chose supply chain as my focus in college, I knew I wanted to build my career somewhere in that space.
My Student Corps internship showed me a completely different side of GM—one grounded in community and real impact. During my GPSC internship, I got to see how vehicle programs worked up close. That’s when everything really clicked. I could see how much opportunity existed in supply chain, and I just knew I wanted to be part of it.
Before my senior year even started, I accepted a TRACK role because it meant I could explore different parts of the business in a short amount of time. The chance to learn through rotations and carry those lessons forward meant a lot to me. It felt like the right place to start.
Mackenzie celebrates her graduation from Michigan State University in 2024, proudly wearing her letterman’s jacket she received for being a student athlete.
What have you learned from your TRACK rotations?
My confidence keeps leveling up in different ways.
When I started, I stepped into something completely new. It was a little overwhelming. But the great thing about TRACK is: you’re empowered to learn quickly, ask questions, and find your footing while things keep changing around you.
How did TRACK help you boost your confidence?
You start trusting yourself more and realizing you can make decisions even if you don’t have all the answers. That’s such an important part of working in logistics, where timing is everything.
Helping parts reach the plants is what really makes that confidence feel real. And just as meaningful are the relationships you build along the way. The GPSC world starts to feel smaller in the best way, because the people you meet in one rotation are often the ones supporting you in the next. That makes every new challenge feel a little more possible.
During a football game between MSU and the University of Washington in 2022, Mackenzie takes time to cheer up MSU’s mascot Sparty.
What did moving through different parts of the supply chain teach you?
It helped me see the full picture.
In materials availability, the focus is on launch readiness. Again, making sure parts arrive on time.
In purchasing, you’re coming in earlier in the process. So it’s more about building supplier relationships and securing what’s needed.
And in logistics — that’s when everything comes together. Production depends on speed and coordination.
Seeing how each phase connects makes the urgency feel real. When a plant needs parts within days, you understand exactly what’s at stake, and why every decision matters.
What excites you most about working in global logistics right now?
Change is constant. There’s a lot happening, and so much to keep up with.
But technology is helping us solve problems faster and better now. I’ve had the chance to explore tools that take care of repetitive tasks, which gives our team more time to focus on stuff that really matters.
Getting to be part of that kind of progress so early in my career is really fun. The future feels wide open.
Mackenzie shares a moment with her colleague Megan while visiting GM’s Lansing Delta Plant in 2024.
What skills are you most focused on developing in the next few years?
Building confidence in large settings is something I’m still working toward. It isn’t always easy to speak up in a room full of experienced professionals. I still feel that sometimes.
But pushing myself to do it anyway really helps. Each chance to present or contribute helps me feel a little more comfortable. Over time, those moments build the confidence to lead conversations instead of staying in the background.
Intercontinental logistics can be unpredictable. What challenges have stood out so far?
Working across global time zones. It’s not just about scheduling. That’s a huge part, sure.
But you have to think about urgency and communication styles. Prioritization too. Sometimes, something comes up right before a weekend or production deadline, and you just have to figure it out quickly in the moment.
As a dancer, I’m used to being flexible and on my toes. That mindset really helps me stay calm, adapt, and trust my abilities when things move fast.
Mackenzie catches her breath while dancing for Michigan State in the men’s basketball March Madness series of 2024.
Dance has played a major role in your life. How does that experience influence how you collaborate and lead?
Dance has shaped who I am for as long as I can remember.
I stayed with it through college, served as a captain on the Michigan State dance team, and now I coach a junior varsity team—supporting younger dancers through challenges I once faced myself.
It’s a lifelong art. It continues to teach me patience, accountability, and how to show up for people when they feel unsure of themselves. I see those same lessons at work, where leadership often means helping others find confidence even when the path forward isn’t totally clear.
How is working in GPSC similar to dancing?
It feels like a coordinated routine where everyone has their own timing.
Priorities shift and teams have to adjust together to stay aligned. Success depends on being aware of each other and trusting the shared movement.
Some moments call for leading. Others call for listening and responding. And when communication stays strong and everyone stays flexible, the work starts to flow—and I love being able to see everything moving together in one direction. So, it’s about coordination, really.
Left: Mackenzie takes a selfie at the Warren Tech Center; Right: Mackenzie strikes a pose while visiting her old college house from Michigan State, not too far from GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly.
What stands out to you most about GM’s culture as someone early in your career?
Support is something you feel right away.
Starting the TRACK program with others creates a special kind of bond. It’s a shared experience where you learn and grow together.
Across teams, people are open and willing to help you out, which makes it easier to ask questions and try new ideas. That kind of environment makes a lasting difference early in your career—and it’s something I’ve really appreciated.
Which GM employee behavior resonates most with you?
Innovate and embrace change.
Each TRACK rotation has given me a fresh new perspective. They pushed me to question how things are done. They’ve helped me stay curious and look for better solutions.
Mentors have been super open to those questions and new solutions too. That makes growth feel possible.
When you think about the future, what keeps you moving forward?
Just how much there is to learn.
Every new challenge is a chance to grow stronger, trust myself more, and keep becoming the kind of leader I hope to be.
Dance taught me that progress doesn’t happen all at once. It happens step by step, through focus, patience, and trust in the people around you. I carry that lesson with me every day.
As long as I keep moving, I know I’m heading in the right direction.
As she steps into her fourth rotation as an Assistant Program Purchasing Manager and looks ahead to graduating from TRACK in September 2026, Mackenzie feels that same sense of forward motion she’s always known.
Recently, she celebrated her first national championship as a coach — another reminder that growth shows up in unexpected ways.
Whether she’s guiding dancers or helping keep production moving, Mackenzie knows progress comes from staying focused, trusting the people around you, and taking the next step with confidence.
Want to get on the right TRACK at GM? Visit our TRACK program page.
Discover more stories in this series:
- On the Right TRACK: How Barbara Scabello built a leadership career at GM
- 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
