Sharon Gauci on leadership, legacy and letting go at General Motors

As we reported on 25 March, GM's Sharon Gauci will retire from the company as of 1 May, closing the chapter on successful career that spanned various design roles. 

Car Design News sat down with Gauci for an exclusive interview to discuss the emotions that have followed, and to give an insight into her approach towards design leadership.

Sharon Gauci: It happens to everyone, right? It’s an internal conversation, full of emotion. In the end, it just felt like the right time.

Car Design News: You took a slightly unconventional path into design leadership. How did that shape your view of what automotive design leadership should be?

SG: That’s true — and there were so few of us in CMF when I started. Back in 1993 in Australia, I think there were only four people in the whole country working in colour, materials and finish.

Today, there’s much greater recognition of CMF, not just in automotive, but across product design generally.

CDN: It still feels like a relatively new conversation in automotive.

SG: You’re right. My journey into leadership was truly unconventional. I started in CMF without really understanding the broader scope of automotive design. But that gave me the opportunity to learn quickly and help define the discipline as I went.

There wasn’t a clear framework for CMF at the time, so I was able to help shape strategies. I also spent time in marketing, which gave me a completely different perspective, understanding the customer, the brand, and how products connect emotionally.

Later, I moved into industrial design, which broadened my impact even further, from CMF and UX to shaping Design West, working on the Saarinen building refurbishment with Michael Simcoe, and even contributing to the GM design logo.

I finished my career as executive director overseeing exterior and interior design for GMC and Buick. It’s a journey I never could have predicted back in 1993.

Designing great products is critical, but understanding people is just as important

But one of the most rewarding aspects has been the impact on people, helping others grow into their careers and leadership roles, and shaping culture along the way.

CDN: That’s interesting, because some designers can be quite single-minded. Not all make great leaders. It sounds like you had a real strength in nurturing people.

SG: I’ve always believed that even the strongest vision means nothing if you can’t deliver it through people. Culture is everything. The real magic happens when teams rally behind a shared vision and feel empowered to do their best work.

CDN: Was that something you learned, or did it come naturally?

SG: A bit of both. I’ve had leadership roles from early in my career, and I’ve also made plenty of mistakes. Being open to learning — and to feedback — is key. At the end of the day, creativity is about people. The question is: how do you create an environment where they can thrive?

CDN: That ties into your work on Design West. There’s that idea that environments shape behaviour.

SG: Exactly. The studio needed to support collaboration, not just visually reflect the Saarinen heritage, but fundamentally change how we work together.

As a leader, I’ve also made a conscious effort to connect with people. I often host informal sessions — small groups, no agenda — just listening and learning. We also create opportunities for individuals to share their journeys, so we understand who they are and where they want to go.

Designing great products is critical, but understanding people is just as important.

CDN: Were there key mentors or influences in your career?

SG: I’ve always been an observer. I don’t have a single list of mentors, but I’ve learned from many people, both positive and negative experiences. You take what resonates and decide what kind of leader you want to be.

CDN: Looking back, what are the highlights?

SG: There are many but I’ll also say this: in our industry, the best is always still to come. That said, key moments include the Sierra EV, introducing an electric future for GMC in a more premium, refined way — and Buick’s current success, influenced by the Wildcat concept.

I’m also proud of helping elevate CMF as a discipline, integrating it fully into design. Material quality is critical, you can have a beautiful surface, but the wrong material diminishes everything. And of course, redesigning the GM logo was a significant moment.

CDN: That was fascinating, the old logo suddenly looked dated overnight.

SG: Yes, and it was a huge responsibility. We needed to respect GM’s legacy while expressing a more modern, technological, approachable future. We went through hundreds of iterations and worked closely with Mary Barra. It wasn’t just the logo, it was the entire visual system.

CDN: That speaks to holistic design — every touchpoint matters.

SG: Exactly. Consistency across all interactions builds emotional connection.

CDN: You’ve described Buick as an “easy brand to love.” What did you mean by that?

SG: For Buick, it’s about timelessness. Not chasing trends, but creating something enduring, modern and premium.

CDN: And with GMC, how do you balance pushing forward without going too far?

SG: That’s always the challenge. I remember presenting a future interior concept to the team and pausing to ask: are we pushing too far? But the team believed in it. That gave me the confidence to move forward.

CDN: That goes back to bringing the team with you.

SG: Absolutely. And for me, detail is everything. Every element — materials, stitching, textures — must come together harmoniously. That’s what creates truly holistic design.

CDN: What do you think your legacy will be?

SG: Hopefully a commitment to detail, and a strong foundation in defining what a brand stands for. That upfront work is critical.

CDN: Are designers involved in product planning at GM?

SG Yes, very much so. We collaborate closely with planning teams, both shaping future ideas and identifying gaps in the portfolio. And we stay involved through to launch, including visual assets like photography and motion, to ensure consistency with the product and brand.

CDN: It feels like an interesting moment to retire, with so much in the pipeline.

SG It is, and I’m excited about what’s coming. But I’m also ready. I like to say I’m “young old” — I’m 56, still active, and ready to explore. I’ve already planned several trips.

CDN: Will you stay involved professionally?

SG: I think so, eventually. I love architecture and residential design, that’s been a personal passion. Maybe mentoring or education as well. I won’t stop completely.