 Tricia Morrow grew up in Southeast Michigan with a love for math and finding solutions to problems.
Those childhood interests helped start her on the path to a fulfilling career with General Motors, working in Global Vehicle Safety where she develops technologies intended to help families stay safe while out on the road.
A mother of two, who has degrees from the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Purdue University, she’s currently responsible for safety strategy, feature development and implementation, as well as biomechanics assessment.
We sat down with Tricia to talk about the path that led her to where she is today and her love of living in Michigan.
Q: Tell us about your career at General Motors up to this point. How do you feel GM has enabled you to grow professionally?
A: From disassembling an entire engine to traveling globally, I’ve been given a diverse work experience at GM, even going back to my early days as an intern.
Some of the most fun I’ve had was designing safety performance systems and actually crash testing the cars. I’ve been able to travel while working in different areas of the company like global electrical, where I learned the most because I didn’t have formal training in that area. I’ve also worked in the innovation group where there are a lot of cool technologies and designs that we’re working on for future product.
Q: How would you describe the culture at GM?
A: If I had to use one word to describe the culture, I’d say family. There’s a very strong dedication to safety and quality, but it’s not stuffy at all. It’s also a very collaborative environment. We have such a great team and I really feel like we have each other’s backs. At the same time, they’ve also always been flexible with work-life balance, supporting me and my family while still providing opportunities to take on more prestigious assignments.
Q: What led you to working in Global Vehicle Safety?
A: I’ve always wanted to help people with my engineering background, and working in Global Vehicle Safety and doing biomechanical research allows me to have a part in saving them. With the focus GM has on its customers and the fact that I like helping people, including our littlest passengers, it’s just a natural fit.
Q: What have been some of the exciting projects you’ve worked on as a GM employee?
A: I’d say the Rear Seat Reminder, which is our most recent innovation for the GMC Acadia, is something that I’m particularly proud of.We wanted to give busy drivers, in particular parents, an important reminder to check their back seat before leaving the car under certain circumstances. The system doesn’t actually detect objects or people in the rear seat; it works by monitoring rear door usage just before or during a trip. Whether it’s your lunch, laptop, pet or, most importantly, your child, it’s easier than it seems to forget what’s in the back seat at those moments when you’re distracted by what life can throw at you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash vehicle fatalities for children.
Q: How does your personal life play a part in developing new technologies?
A: When you work in Global Vehicle Safety, you’re trying to improve vehicle performance and help people in crashes. I think having children has taught me how fragile life is, much more so than the statistics we see.
Q: These technologies can impact the lives of countless people in a positive way. How does it feel to be a part of a bigger cause?
A: It’s so rewarding. It’s the reason we come to work every day. I’m so proud to be part of the team that designed and implemented this technology. And we’ve also gotten the opportunity to bring awareness to the issue of heatstroke.
Q: What do you enjoy about working in the automotive industry and how has it brought you fulfillment on a professional level?
A: It’s such a dynamic industry. There’s been so much change since I started at GM and it will evolve even more in the next five to 10 years with all of the advancements being made in technology, making it a fun and exciting career choice. From traveling the globe to seeing how new innovations are changing the driving experience to make people safer, I feel lucky to have found a career that’s brought me so much satisfaction.
All you have to do to be a part of it is to just jump right in and experience it for yourself. Right now, for younger engineers, there are some really wonderful opportunities for professional growth. Plus there are numerous opportunities to land a career in automotive engineering and so many different ways you can participate in the design and building of these great vehicles. I know from my own experience that GM has a lot to offer for anyone. It’s just a matter of finding what will be a good fit.
Q: What do you enjoy most about living in Michigan and how would you describe the quality of life here?
A: I love living in Michigan.
There’s no better time to be in Michigan than the summer. It’s wonderful to be out on the lakes, both inland and the Great Lakes, which are so much fun for sport and recreation. My girls sail, I sail, my husband sails, so we love being out on the water. You also get the great changes in season by living in Michigan. The fall brings the beautiful trees that change color, the cider mills and the pumpkin patches. In the winter there’s ice skating, ice fishing and skiing. There’s such a great Michigan tradition with skiing and going up north with family and friends. And with Detroit, we love the restaurants and going to see the Tigers and Red Wings. The city is really expanding and it’s only going to get better. There’s a lot of energy going on downtown right now.
I really feel like Michigan has a lot to offer and no matter what you want to do, you can do it here.
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