In the Loop Episode 3 | How Financial Examiners Can Build Meaningful, Long-Term Careers

A career in financial regulation offers far more opportunities than many examiners realize. In this episode of *In the Loop*, hosts Kareeme Tucker and Derek Storms are joined by Rhoshunda Kelly, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, Kelly Lammers, Director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, and Susannah Marshall, Commissioner of the Arkansas State Bank Department to reflect on their own career journeys. They discuss the skills and experiences that prepare examiners for long-term success, and share practical advice on leadership development, career progression, and navigating opportunities available within state financial services regulation. **In this episode, you’ll learn:** - The communication and leadership skills that matter most for successful financial examiners - Practical ways to grow your career through new opportunities, specialized roles, and leadership development - How experienced regulators build long-term careers and what today's examiners can do to prepare for the future **Things to listen for:** (00:00) Introduction (02:38) Meet the guests: Three regulatory leaders share their backgrounds (05:57) How each guest accidentally became a financial examiner (13:00) Early career challenges and earning credibility as a young examiner (16:08) Why communication is the most important examiner skill (18:16) When examining became a long-term career (22:24) Career transitions from examiner to regulatory leadership (24:18) The best career advice for aspiring examiners and future leaders (28:01) Career paths beyond traditional field examinations (31:00) Certifications, specialization, and expanding your opportunities (33:56) What separates future leaders from great examiners (38:03) Building communication and leadership skills on the job (40:29) Advice for mid-career examiners preparing for the next step (42:19) Lessons that prepared today's commissioners and directors for leadership (43:45) The skills tomorrow's regulatory leaders will need (47:25) Fishbowl questions: Coffee, travel tips, examiner life, and favorite pizza **Resources:** Derek Storms’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-storms-81026269/ Kareeme Tucker’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareemetucker/  Rhoshunda Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoshunda-kelly-3775a293/ Kelly Lammers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-lammers-6878aba/ Susannah Marshall: https://securities.arkansas.gov/about/commissioner/  Examiners know the drill—new city, long day, and one important question: Where are we eating? Finding a good spot near the job site that won’t wreck your per diem can be tough… but don’t worry, we’ve got a slice of help. Introducing the *In the Loop* Pizza List—a delicious collection of favorite pizza spots from across the country, built from more than 10 years of examiner feedback. Because when it comes to road food, pizza always delivers. With every episode of *In the Loop*, we ask our guests to share their go-to pizza place, so the list keeps growing one slice at a time. Got a favorite pizza joint? Send it our way—we’d love to add it. This list is not an endorsement by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors… just our best attempt to make sure no examiner suffers through bad pizza on the road. Stay hungry. Stay traveling. Stay *In the Loop*.