Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig

Harris Clarke, COO at GuideCX, joins Michael to unpack what it means to lead when everything feels like it’s shifting under your feet. From learning precision and process in the U.S. Department of State to running operations in a high-growth SaaS company, Harris shares how trust, clarity, and calm create real stability in an organization.

Show Notes

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This week on Between Two COOs, Michael sits down with Harris Clarke, COO at GuideCX, to talk about what steady leadership actually looks like inside fast-changing companies.

Harris started his career in protocol and operations for the U.S. Department of State, where “process” wasn’t just a buzzword — it was survival. He shares how those lessons translate to running a modern SaaS organization and why purpose, process, and payoff are the anchors of any good meeting.

They dig into:

  • How government discipline shaped Harris’s operating style
  • The “three P’s” framework for productive meetings
  • Why decision speed is overrated — and what Harris means by “Did anyone die or go to jail?”
  • What he learned from executive coaching and board feedback
  • How GuideCX built a new product category around customer onboarding
  • How AI is quietly reshaping how he manages teams and prepares communications
  • Why calm is a competitive advantage during crisis moments like SVB

Michael also gives context at the top: this episode was recorded across two sessions, after a recording issue mid-interview (and yes, he’s now officially a Riverside convert).

It’s a conversation about building trust, running tight systems, and keeping your head when everything around you is changing.

Harris Clarke on LinkedIn
GuideCX

Michael Koenig on LinkedIn

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What is Between Two COO's with Michael Koenig?

Between Two COOs is hosted by veteran COO Michael Koenig and brings together Chief Operating Officers, executives, and business leaders to share real insights on operations, leadership, scaling, AI, and execution. Featuring COOs from companies like LVMH, Vodafone, Automattic, Lime, JumpCloud, Grafana Labs, and Cotopaxi, plus top VCs like Brad Feld and Seth Levine. Whether you're a COO, VP of Ops, founder, or aspiring operator — this is the podcast for people who actually run companies. New episodes weekly. betweentwocoos.com | b2coos.com