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.
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
Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS.
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If you're dreaming of a bigger life beyond your comfort zone, this conversation is your blueprint. Why Richard chose to move abroad — and how it changed everything
How learning Spanish built more than just language skills
Empathy as a leadership strategy, not a buzzword
Overcoming doubts, setbacks, and self-doubt abroad
Practical advice for building a people-centered business from scratch
How staying true to your heart can lead to global success
I'm Jamilia Grier — a Dubai-based mom of four, tech lawyer, and founder helping ambitious families design freedom-filled lives across borders.
-Expat family life in Dubai 🇦
-Cost of living breakdowns & housing tours
-Moving abroad with kids — what to know
-Luxury travel & digital nomad parenting tips
-Business & lifestyle strategies for global entrepreneurs
-Real stories of reinvention, motherhood & modern wealth
If you're exploring how to move to Dubai, start a business abroad, or raise a family with more freedom and culture — you’re in the right place.
As a tech-savvy legal executive with over 15 years of global experience, I specialize in navigating complex regulatory, policy, and ethical landscapes at the intersection of law, innovation, and cross-border growth.
From leading data privacy and compliance for multinationals in Asia to founding my own advisory firm focused on Web3 and AI, I bring a unique mix of legal precision, cultural fluency, and entrepreneurial vision. My work spans AI governance, blockchain regulation, digital assets, and fintech compliance—always with a strong foundation in ethics, trust, and responsible innovation.
I’ve advised startups, global institutions, and government-linked entities across the U.S., China, Singapore, and the UAE. Whether I’m shaping emerging tech policy, designing ethical frameworks for AI, or guiding companies through complex international compliance, I focus on enabling innovation that is principled, scalable, and future-ready.
Areas of focus:
-AI Ethics, Policy & Governance
-Blockchain & Digital Asset Compliance
-Global Data Privacy & Cross-Border Regulation
-Fintech Licensing & Risk Strategy
-Tech Law in Emerging Markets
-Mandarin-English Legal Negotiation & Stakeholder Alignment
Let’s connect if you’re building ambitious technology with a global footprint—and want to do it with strategy, trust, and long-term impact.
Author of Building a Business Abroad
Host of The Jamilia Grier Show — where real journeys meet real success
Entrepreneur empowering global business leaders and storytellers
If you're building something bigger than yourself — a business, a brand, or a life abroad — let's connect.
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Mr. Richard Blank holds a bachelors degree in Communication and Spanish from the University of Arizona and a certificate of language proficiency from the University of Sevilla, Spain. A Keynote speaker for Philadelphia's Abington High School 68th National Honors Society induction ceremony. In addition, inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame for Business. Giving back to Abington Senior High School is very important to Mr. Blank. As such, he endows a scholarship each year for students that plan on majoring in a world language at the university level.
Costa Rica’s Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center agent so that we may offer the highest quality of outbound and inbound telemarketing solutions and bilingual customer service to small and medium sized international companies, entrepreneurs as well as fortune 500 companies.
We encourage you to visit one of our call centers on your next personal vacation or business trip to Central America’s paradise, Costa Rica. While you are here, we would recommend taking an extra day of your trip to visit breathtaking virgin beaches, play golf next to the ocean, try your luck at deep sea fishing, explore tropical jungles, climb volcanos or just relax in natural hot springs. Come and see for yourself why call center outsourcing in Costa Rica is a perfect solution for your growing company and a powerhouse in the BPO industry.
https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/
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