In Depth The most politically dangerous role in the C-suite | Katie Burke (COO, Harvey)
40 snips
Apr 10, 2026 
Katie Burke, former HubSpot people leader turned COO at Harvey, known for building culture and people strategy. She talks about treating HR like marketing, why hospitality hires shape culture, the long cultural hangover after layoffs, clear rules for feedback, and how AI will reshape people operations and managers’ time.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Replan Headcount Often With New Leaders
- Replan headcount frequently when new leaders join and in fast-moving industries like AI; keep plans agile but not onerous.
- At Harvey they do annual financial/headcount plans plus quarterly mini-replans and ensure recruiter capacity aligns with goals.
Match Your Culture To Your Product And Pace
- Company culture must match the product and pace; 'resort must match the brochure'—don't promise unicorns then deliver cutthroat environments.
- Harvey positions itself as intense but reasonable, protecting parental leave and caring while expecting more than a nine-to-five.
Berrygate Became A Culture Rorschach Test
- 'Berrygate' started as a finance chart about berry consumption and escalated into a company debate on perks and consultation.
- Leadership removed berries, opened a smoothie bar, and used the incident to call out entitlement and clarify priorities.