In this powerful episode of The Jamilia Grier Show, I sit down with Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, to explore how he turned leading with empathy into building a business abroad. We unpack the real journey behind building a business overseas, overcoming self-doubt, leading with empathy, and mastering human connection in an AI-driven world.

https://youtu.be/jyfEmDsHRlc?si=qb_K77XnGGUIn1xz

https://youtu.be/GfP6-EFLoV0

https://youtube.com/shorts/dXWRNGRlMv0

https://youtube.com/shorts/MIYRJYs8j6A

https://youtube.com/shorts/q3jQzk78cT0

https://youtube.com/shorts/trP8vocbD1I

https://youtu.be/tHgH3bMF3Vs

https://youtu.be/CnHUq1Wi9eA

https://youtu.be/k9Q6PUMHyvA

00:00 – Intro: Meet Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center  

01:30 – Why he left the U.S. to start over at 27  

03:00 – Teaching English abroad: the unexpected door to entrepreneurship  

05:10 – Overcoming pushback: Why the boldest choices are often misunderstood  

07:00 – Breaking language barriers: From Philly to fluent Spanish  

09:30 – Learning by immersion: How Richard mastered the call center world  

11:45 – Building with empathy: Why dignity is your best employee retention strategy  

13:10 – What we’ve lost in a post-COVID, remote-first world  

15:00 – The power of vulnerability and showing up with heart  

16:30 – How to lead 10,000+ people without losing the personal touch  

19:15 – Sales redefined: Why it's really about relationship building  

21:45 – Human connection vs automation: Will AI replace real empathy?  

23:15 – Communicating with intention, even over text  

25:10 – Entrepreneurs + sales = the mindset shift you need  

28:10 – Building communication confidence (even if you're shy)  

30:00 – Real leadership is hands-on (and sometimes includes pinball)  

32:45 – The hiring secret: Why your coming-of-age story matters more than your résumé  

34:10 – Culture building through authenticity and connection  

36:00 – Why teens can be your best team members  

37:45 – Surviving the hard days: Entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous, it’s earned  

40:00 – The mindset to keep going when you want to quit  

42:50 – Social media vs real life: Stop comparing, start building  

44:50 – What real success looks like (hint: it’s not just Lamborghinis)  

47:30 – A message to those stuck in unfulfilling jobs  

49:12 – Final thoughts + Connect with Richard

At 27 years old, Richard Blank left behind the familiar streets of Philadelphia to follow an unlikely calling — training call center workers in Costa Rica. What started as a teaching job turned into a lifelong entrepreneurial journey, building Costa Rica’s Call Center into a thriving business tht trained over 10,000 employees.

In this episode, Richard shares the heartfelt risk that changed his life, why empathy is a superpower in leadership, and how learning a second language opened doors to global success. We talk about the real challenges of building a business abroad, lessons from leading with humanity, and how staying true to your values can spark an empire.

The Heartfelt Risk Behind Richard Blank’s Global Success

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.