The most politically dangerous role in the C-suite | Katie Burke (COO, Harvey)

Chief People Officer Katie Burke details the strategic evolution of the people function, emphasizing that internal communications and culture must ladder up to business objectives rather than serving as a "nanny state." Effective people leadership requires building a high-performance environment where managers act as coaches who demand excellence while maintaining deep empathy. Key operational strategies include maintaining radical transparency—such as sharing full employee survey data—and utilizing AI to eliminate administrative friction in processes like performance reviews and headcount planning. Burke highlights that the most successful executives prioritize trust and discretion, particularly when navigating sensitive organizational changes like layoffs or leadership transitions. Ultimately, the people function serves as a critical driver of business velocity by aligning talent, incentives, and organizational structure with the company’s long-term growth and performance goals.