Kellie Richter on Medium

KELLIE RICHTER OF FIRST COMMAND FINANCIAL SERVICES: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO CREATE A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A CMO

Both of my parents were educators and my three siblings and I spent a lot of time outdoors, learning from our parents while on camping trips across the country. They always taught us the history or the geography of where we were going.

I realized I really liked financial services and changed course from law school. I remained in financial services, eventually knowing I wanted to get back to my communications roots. All of these experiences led to my current path as a CMO. As a lifelong learner, I embrace challenging myself and enjoy merging my interests in brand strategy, marketing and customer experience.

I have tried to fully take advantage of every opportunity to learn, including receiving my Series 6, 7, 63 and 24 financial licenses and certification from FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) early in my career.

When I was pursuing my MBA in marketing, I applied for and was accepted into a mentor-mentee women’s mentorship program in Minneapolis. It was an honor, as I was one of only two at my company at that time who were nominated for and accepted into the mentoring program.

Never stop learning. That’s how you remain relevant. It’s been an informal guide that was reinforced by my earliest experiences — and one I continue to follow today.