COMPLY: The Marketing Compliance Podcast

Compliance Expert Interview with Courtney Schwoebel

• PerformLine • Season 3 • Episode 57

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0:00 | 21:29

The Expert Interview Series is a segment of the COMPLY Podcast where we shine a spotlight on the industry leaders who are truly making a difference in the marketing compliance landscape. These boots-on-the-ground professionals work tirelessly to protect consumers while navigating the complex regulatory environment.

We’ll chat with these compliance experts as they share their real-world experiences, expertise, and practical insights. By hearing from those who are actively engaged in compliance, you'll gain valuable perspectives and actionable strategies to apply in your own work.

In this episode, I sat down with compliance veteran, Courtney Schwoebel, where we discussed how her humble beginnings in fraud and banking gave her the skills needed to build out robust Compliance Management Systems.

Listen in as we discuss:

  • How working in operations gave her the skills she needed to become an effective compliance subject matter expert
  • Her love of protecting consumers and ensuring brand protection
  • The importance of connecting with other compliance professionals to share best practices
  • Her thoughts about compliance in 2025 and her “superpower”!

Show Notes

PerformLine Marketing:
 Good afternoon, Comply Podcast guests! It’s wonderful to have everyone here, and Happy New Year! I’m really happy to bring you another compliance professional as part of our expert interview series. Today, we have Courtney Schwoebel, a long-time compliance professional who has worked in several areas throughout the industry. I’m excited to have her share different perspectives and insights from her experiences. Courtney, please introduce yourself to our audience.

Courtney Schwoebel:
 Hi! I’m Courtney Schwoebel. I’ve been in compliance for, oh, I don’t know—it feels like just a couple of years. No, I’m kidding—it’s closer to 8 to 10 years! I’ve had an interesting journey to get to this point, and it’s certainly been a ride I wouldn’t change for anything.

I started in the world of fraud and banking, which was an exciting experience. While working at a FinTech, I had the opportunity to learn how to operationalize compliance and build a strong CMS (Compliance Management System). Startups rarely say, “Oh, we’ve already got this perfect CMS ready to go,” so I got to learn how to build one while also creating a successful product line.

It’s been such a joy to understand the ins and outs of compliance. Honestly, the alphabet soup of regulations is something I think about often—and I’m sure other compliance professionals do too! I’m extremely passionate about this field, and I’m so excited to be here today.

PerformLine Marketing:
 I can tell how passionate you are, and I love that. I always ask people: what compels you most about your work in compliance? It sounds like there are many areas you’re drawn to—the CMS build-out, understanding regulations—but is there one area that really stands out to you?

Courtney Schwoebel:
 I really love the operational aspect. I think it’s something many compliance professionals don’t necessarily have in their skill set, especially if they haven’t worked in operations. I was lucky enough to come up through that side of things before moving into compliance.

There’s something so satisfying about putting regulations and best practices into an actual program and seeing all the puzzle pieces come together. It’s just so cool.

Of course, I’ll always have a soft spot for UDAP (Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices). Consumer protection is at the core of what I do. I love being the conduit for protecting consumers and supporting financial institutions to ensure they get it right. People rely on us to understand the regulations—it’s not their job; it’s ours.

PerformLine Marketing:
 I love that—you’re like the compliance ninja, working behind the scenes to ensure everything is happening correctly.

Courtney Schwoebel:
 Exactly!

PerformLine Marketing:
 As we reflect on the challenges of the past few years, especially in financial services, compliance professionals have had to take on so much more. From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges facing compliance teams today?

Courtney Schwoebel:
 One of the biggest challenges is navigating the changes in administration and shifting mindsets. It doesn’t necessarily cause massive headaches, but it does introduce roadblocks and questions.

For example, you might be building a BSA/AML program and wonder: “Will I have to change this in three months? Will a federal law come out that undoes all the state-specific work we’ve just completed?” Especially with new privacy laws emerging, staying agile and keeping your head on a swivel is critical.

PerformLine Marketing:
 Exactly—you’re the trusted advisor everyone turns to for guidance. It’s such a challenging role to juggle the internal and external responsibilities while staying ahead of all the changes.

Courtney Schwoebel:
 It truly is, but having a solid compliance system in place is critical, no matter who’s in charge on Pennsylvania Avenue.

PerformLine Marketing:
 Absolutely. Now, with so many new professionals entering compliance, whether from layoffs or moving between industries, do you have any advice for those new to the field?

Courtney Schwoebel:
 Definitely. First, immerse yourself in resources beyond your office. Organizations like the ABA and PerformLine offer webinars and roundtables—take advantage of those! Compliance is not a solo sport.

We’re all working for different companies, but our goals align. Sharing ideas and best practices helps everyone navigate the complexities of regulations—many of which were written decades ago and don’t always fit neatly into today’s contexts.

Stay engaged, stay curious, and keep your head on a swivel.

PerformLine Marketing:
 Great advice! Roundtables, especially, are such valuable opportunities to connect. Shameless plug for us: if you haven’t joined one of our mortgage or banking roundtables, please do! Courtney has been a part of them, and I’m sure we’ll see her at future sessions.

Courtney Schwoebel:
 Absolutely! Sharing knowledge and learning from others is so valuable. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when we can work smarter, not harder.

PerformLine Marketing:
 Exactly. On that note, are there any tools or resources you’d recommend for compliance professionals?

Courtney Schwoebel:
 PerformLine, hands down. This isn’t a paid promotion—it’s just facts. PerformLine is unmatched in helping you understand what consumers are seeing when they interact with your brand. It’s your first line of defense, flagging anything that might be off.

Once you’ve used it, you’ll never want to go back to manual monitoring. There are only so many hours in the day, and PerformLine saves you from spending all of them on monitoring.

PerformLine Marketing:
 Thank you so much for that endorsement! Now, looking ahead, what are your predictions or hopes for compliance in the coming months?

Courtney Schwoebel:
 I hope we continue focusing on consumer protection—things like addressing overdraft fees and supporting consumers during tough economic times.

At the same time, I think we’ll see more emphasis on BSA/AML, given global turmoil. Balancing fairness and protection in financial systems will be key, especially with potential shifts in federal and state regulations.

PerformLine Marketing:
 Agreed—regulations are here to stay, and regulators aren’t going anywhere. One last question for fun: what’s your secret superpower?

Courtney Schwoebel:
 Empathy. It’s my greatest strength and, at times, my greatest weakness. I feel deeply, which helps me connect with consumers’ perspectives and advocate for them. But feeling everything can be overwhelming!

PerformLine Marketing:
 You are a compliance superhero! Thank you so much for joining us today. It’s been a pleasure hearing about your journey and insights. We’ll share your LinkedIn so others can connect with you.

Courtney Schwoebel:
 Thank you! Remember, compliance is everyone’s responsibility. Have a great day!

PerformLine Marketing:
 Thank you, Courtney!


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PerformLine

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