 From playing the saxophone to creating unique pieces of art, Alisyn Malek keeps herself plenty busy when she’s not discovering new automotive technology companies and investment opportunities for General Motors.
A passionate Detroiter and University of Michigan graduate, Alisyn has built a successful career in Michigan’s auto industry. Since 2009, she has risen from a product manager, working with advanced charging technologies for GM’s electric vehicles, to an investment manager for GM Ventures, where she is one of four people who help seek out deals for GM.
We sat down with Alisyn to talk about her eclectic interests and the path that led her to where she is today.
Q: Tell us about your role at General Motors and how you feel GM has enabled you to continue to grow in your career.
A: After graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, I started at General Motors as an intern working on the charging system of the Chevrolet Volt, while working on my master’s degree in energy systems engineering. This was when very few people even knew what the Volt was or exactly how charging would work. It was very exciting to be fresh out of college and working on a new technology that would have a global impact on how we use fossil fuels.
After I was hired for a full-time position, I served as lead for a global engineering team that was developing the DC Fast Charging technology for the Chevrolet Spark EV. I traveled all over the world to help that system become a reality. As I learned more about the new technology and how it is brought into the automotive ecosystem, I had opportunities to explore different facets of that process. From working for the executive responsible for all of electrification and helping with planning, to my current position in GM Ventures – where I explore new opportunities for GM to invest in companies with the potential to help our business – I have been able to explore my own interests and passions while under the GM umbrella.
Q: What have been some of the exciting projects you’ve worked on during your time at GM?
A: Working on the Spark EV’s charging system was very exciting for me, especially as a young engineer. The ability to drive our strategy around the customer experience and lead teams from around the globe was awe-inspiring.
Q: What are your thoughts on this region as a tech hub? How do you feel Michigan leads or competes in terms of the types of technologies being developed and the level of talent?
A: If you want a physical object designed and manufactured, Michigan is the place to do it. I think Michigan has a huge amount of talent. We have the greatest density of product designers in the U.S., if not the world. We have some of the leading supply chain professionals, and a wide variety of suppliers, which is often overlooked. I have been seeing more accelerators popping up in Silicon Valley around hardware and supply chain, and I think this is only the tip of the iceberg, and a spot where Michigan could really shine.
There are also talented people here with ideas for viable venture-backed companies. The number of venture capital firms in Michigan that are willing, or able, to write big enough checks to help startups stay here instead of going to the coasts for funding is currently limited. When you add in the auto industry’s interest in Silicon Valley, if there were greater access to venture funding, Michigan could take advantage of the opportunity to grow the local ecosystem. But we need more individuals willing to recognize that broader opportunity and take bigger risks.
Q: What opportunities and type of lifestyle does living in Michigan and the city of Detroit offer to young professionals?
A: In Michigan, you can afford to have the lifestyle of your choosing, even as a young professional. From Ann Arbor and Birmingham, and their blend of shopping and restaurants, to quieter communities and rural farmland, you can find just about any type of community within a fairly reasonable commute to cities that offer a wide range of careers.
I personally enjoy the cultural diversity that Detroit has to offer, but I also love to get away from downtown on the weekends and head to a house that I built in northern Michigan. The available outdoor activities in Michigan are often overlooked.
I also think the quality of life is more balanced than other places. In any profession, there are times when there will be long hours and the job can be all-consuming. However, in Michigan, there is a greater respect for balance and appreciation for time off, especially to enjoy the beautiful summers. I spend a good deal of my time in San Francisco and other popular tech hubs – dealing with traffic and the daily grind – and I can never wait to get back to Michigan.
Q: What do you enjoy about living in Detroit and what types of activities are you involved in during your spare time?
A: Detroit is still very much a community-driven place so there is a lot of opportunity to get involved with everything, from neighborhood gardens to community art projects.
When I am not at my day job, I’m usually at what I jokingly refer to as my night job at Corktown Studios, which is an artist collective I started with some friends a few years ago. At first it was our goal to create a clean and safe space for us to make artwork, but it has grown into a larger community of artists and an exhibition space. If I’m not making artwork myself, I’m helping to organize events that provide exposure for other artists and musicians or taking care of the backyard, which we turned into a sculpture garden.
I also have a vegetable garden plot at the North Cass Community Garden, which I helped construct back in 2009. And when time allows, I get to flex my musical muscle by playing in a band as well as some other side projects.
| 
