The Jamilia Grier Show. Richard Blank: Building a Business Abroad & Leading with Empathy <br /><br />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.<br /><br />https://youtu.be/jyfEmDsHRlc?si=qb_K77XnGGUIn1xz<br />https://youtu.be/GfP6-EFLoV0<br />https://youtube.com/shorts/dXWRNGRlMv0<br />https://youtube.com/shorts/MIYRJYs8j6A<br />https://youtube.com/shorts/q3jQzk78cT0<br />https://youtube.com/shorts/trP8vocbD1I<br />https://youtu.be/tHgH3bMF3Vs<br />https://youtu.be/CnHUq1Wi9eA<br />https://youtu.be/k9Q6PUMHyvA<br /><br />00:00 – Intro: Meet Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center <br />01:30 – Why he left the U.S. to start over at 27 <br />03:00 – Teaching English abroad: the unexpected door to entrepreneurship <br />05:10 – Overcoming pushback: Why the boldest choices are often misunderstood <br />07:00 – Breaking language barriers: From Philly to fluent Spanish <br />09:30 – Learning by immersion: How Richard mastered the call center world <br />11:45 – Building with empathy: Why dignity is your best employee retention strategy <br />13:10 – What we’ve lost in a post-COVID, remote-first world <br />15:00 – The power of vulnerability and showing up with heart <br />16:30 – How to lead 10,000+ people without losing the personal touch <br />19:15 – Sales redefined: Why it's really about relationship building <br />21:45 – Human connection vs automation: Will AI replace real empathy? <br />23:15 – Communicating with intention, even over text <br />25:10 – Entrepreneurs + sales = the mindset shift you need <br />28:10 – Building communication confidence (even if you're shy) <br />30:00 – Real leadership is hands-on (and sometimes includes pinball) <br />32:45 – The hiring secret: Why your coming-of-age story matters more than your résumé <br />34:10 – Culture building through authenticity and connection <br />36:00 – Why teens can be your best team members <br />37:45 – Surviving the hard days: Entrepreneurship isn’t glamorous, it’s earned <br />40:00 – The mindset to keep going when you want to quit <br />42:50 – Social media vs real life: Stop comparing, start building <br />44:50 – What real success looks like (hint: it’s not just Lamborghinis) <br />47:30 – A message to those stuck in unfulfilling jobs <br />49:12 – Final thoughts + Connect with Richard
