Barra Makes the Cover of Time Magazine

General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra is the subject of this weekend's Time cover story, "The Mechanic: Mary Barra's Bumpy Ride at the Wheel of GM."

In the report, Barra recounts the shock of learning about the company's faulty ignition switch crisis two weeks after becoming CEO.

She also describes as one of the saddest days in her career came when she read the GM-commissioned report on the company's shortcomings, which delayed recalling 2.6 million of the defective switches for a decade. The component has so far been linked to 21 fatalities.

The GM report by attorney Anton Valukas describes a pattern of "incompetence and neglect," coupled with a corporate culture that chronically avoided responsibility. Barra says she has implemented about 90% of the Valukas' recommended steps to overhaul the company.

"We didn't have world-class processes," Barra tells Time. "We also didn't have world-class behaviors." She reiterates that her goal is to achieve both.