Lauren Kao
About Lauren Kao
Lauren Kao is a Market Regulatory Analyst at FINRA, where she has worked since 2019. She has a background in international relations and has held various positions, including Peacebuilding Fellow at Peace Direct and Research Associate at Exiger Diligence.
Current Role at FINRA
Lauren Kao has been serving as a Market Regulatory Analyst at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) since 2019. In this role, she focuses on market regulation and compliance, contributing to the oversight of broker-dealers and ensuring adherence to industry standards. Her work involves analyzing market activities and providing insights to enhance regulatory practices.
Previous Experience in Peacebuilding
Before her current position, Lauren worked as a Peacebuilding Fellow at Peace Direct from 2017 to 2018 in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. During her year-long fellowship, she engaged in initiatives aimed at promoting peace and conflict resolution, gaining valuable experience in the non-profit sector.
Internship Experience
Lauren has a diverse internship background, having worked at various organizations. In 2016, she interned at the Institute for National Policy Research in Taipei City, Taiwan, for one month. She also completed a three-month internship at the Global Taiwan Institute in 2017 in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. Additionally, she interned at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations for three months in 2014 and served as a Research Intern at ERA Institute for six months in 2016.
Educational Background
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Relations and Affairs and History from The George Washington University, studying from 2014 to 2018. Prior to this, she attended Northfield Mount Hermon, where she completed her high school diploma from 2010 to 2014. She also attended Taipei American School for her lower and middle school education from 2003 to 2010.
Research Associate Role
From 2018 to 2019, Lauren worked as a Research Associate at Exiger Diligence in Silver Spring, Maryland. In this position, she conducted research and analysis, contributing to the firm’s due diligence and compliance efforts. Her experience in research has equipped her with skills applicable to her current regulatory role.