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Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Ep. 508 - Sarah Harris - Uncovering the Secrets of Successful COOs: Empathy, Autonomy, and Impact

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Business, Entrepreneurship, Careers, Management

4.9 • 225 Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, co-host Sivana Brewer is joined by Sarah Harris, Fractional Chief Operating Officer at OMG Commerce.

In this episode, you'll be taken behind the scenes of a dynamic leadership role that’s often misunderstood but critical to a company’s growth and health. Through candid stories and practical insights, the conversation explores the unique balance required to lead both strategically and operationally, juggling long-term vision with short-term problem-solving. You'll hear how strong delegation, prioritization, and clarity of communication help keep leaders out of the weeds and focused on what matters most.

Sarah dives into the hidden challenges companies face as they scale, especially around team structure, decision-making, and culture. You’ll learn why emotional intelligence, feedback systems, and psychological safety are not just soft skills but essential operational levers. The episode highlights how creating space for team autonomy, fostering accountability, and removing decision bottlenecks can unlock innovation and engagement at all levels of the business.


From moments of breakthrough growth in team members to practical rituals for prioritization, this episode is packed with stories, strategies, and mindset shifts that challenge traditional notions of leadership and invite a new way of thinking about operational excellence.


If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!


Enjoy!



In This Episode You'll Learn:


  • Sarah's unique background, starting in commercial roles and eventually becoming a managing director, while also being a qualified therapist and coach.


  • The differences between working with a CEO and a founder CEO, as well as the emotional and personal stakes for the founder.


  • The use of post-mortems and team retrospectives to uncover underlying issues and gather data for making informed decisions.


  • The importance of building a culture of feedback and creating an environment where people feel safe giving feedback in all directions.


  • How Sarah's background in therapy and coaching helps her approach problems with empathy and curiosity.


  • And much more...



Guest Bio:


Sarah Harris is a Fractional COO at OMG Commerce with a unique blend of operational expertise, coaching depth, and psychological insight. With a background as an ICF-certified coach and MBACP-registered counsellor, she supports growth-stage companies by aligning strategy, leadership, and mindset to scale sustainably. Sarah has spent her career leading business transformation—building leadership teams, optimizing operations, and guiding founders through the complexities of growth. Her integrated approach balances execution with people-centered change, helping leaders shift how they think, lead, and show up. From organizational transformation to mergers and acquisitions, Sarah partners with businesses to create resilient, high-performing teams and structures. She knows scaling isn’t just about growing, it’s about building something that works and lasts.


Resources:




Disclaimer:


The views, information, or opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Second in Command podcast or its affiliates. The content provided is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Listeners should consult with a professional for specific advice tailored to their situation. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that any reliance on the content is at your own risk.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, it's Cameron Harold, the host of the Second Command podcast. Before we dive in, there's something you need to know.

0:05.5

If you're a C-O-O-V-P operations or you're in any role where you're the second-in-command to the CEO,

0:12.1

the C-O Alliance is the place for you. If you're the integrator to the visionary, you're going to want to join us.

0:18.4

The C-O Alliance is the world's leading community for the second command.

0:22.4

We've had over 500 members like you join from 17 countries to grow their skills,

0:27.6

connections, and confidence.

0:29.1

You'll get the tools, friendships, and a 10x guarantee to ensure that you get your

0:33.6

money's worth.

0:34.6

Go to COOalliance.com to learn more and see if you qualify. You can even book a free call with our team to ask questions. Now let's jump into this week's episode. So I paused on that. I just said to him, I don't feel like I'm being defensive, but obviously that's how it's coming across. And I sort of said, you know, I just brought us back to the conversation. And then a couple of days later, I sent him just a follow-up in Slack to show that I've reflected on the conversation and why I felt he was picking up on whatever he was picking up on. I think it's, you don't have to own it. But I think you can acknowledge someone else's experience. I think it's, okay, oh, I'm really pleased that you've told me that's how you feel. I really wasn't

1:12.8

aware that that was something I was doing or something that I've even noticed. I need to go away

1:19.1

and think about it, if I'm honest, but I will and I will come back to you with any reflections.

1:24.4

I think it's that. Take it away. You don't have to respond in the moment.

1:31.8

It's like anything, right? Right. Thank you. Let me think on that and I'll come back. That's something I'll need to reflect on. Welcome to the Second and Command podcast, produced by the CIO Alliance

1:42.6

and brought to you by its founder, Cameron Harold. In the Second in Command podcast, produced by the COO Alliance, and brought to you by its founder, Cameron Harold.

1:46.1

In the Second in Command podcast, we talked to top COOs who share the insights, strategies,

1:51.7

and tactics that made them the chief behind the chief.

1:54.9

And now here's your co-host, former CEO of a multi-eight-figure remote company and alumni

2:00.7

member of the COO Alliance, Savannah Brewer.

2:07.9

On today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, I'm joined by Sarah Harris.

2:15.8

She is a seasoned fractional and consultant COO with a really

2:20.9

unique blend of operational expertise and leadership psychology. She has helped scale high growth

2:26.6

agencies, tech firms, and public sector organizations through the messiness of growth, whether that's

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