Education: B.S., electrical engineering, General Motors Institute; M.S., electrical engineering., Purdue University; M.S., computer science, University of Michigan

First automotive job: Plant Engineering, Windsor Trim Plant, GM of Canada, 1981

Proudest achievement: Global alignment of Internet to the vehicle activity

On being successful: "Success is the reward that is born of risk. In the digital automotive world, commitment to what no one else has done drives one of two outcomes: success or learning, which will be applied to future success."

On being a woman in the industry: "It's all I've ever known. My observation is that opportunities are many and expectations are high. I have watched our numbers increase more rapidly than our influence, but that is changing. Women in the auto industry are changing the business because we think, act and relate differently. That has always been our challenge; now it is our advantage."

Career highlights:

Before moving to DaimlerChrysler this month, Terrell was a lifelong GM professional, including assignments in plant and product engineering, manufacturing, research and development, and Cadillac marketing. She was assistant brand manager at Cadillac before being named Director, e-Vehicles Product Management in 1999.