A notepad saves the meeting and your sanity.

Sipping with Maria & Tika Gee podcast. Moving from Philadelphia to Costa Rica with Richard Blank. This podcast is about everyday life. We do not talk about Politics, Religion, or Celebrities! There are enough Blogs, Vlogs, and other Podcasts that talk about that stuff. Here we will talk about everyday issues, we will have a variety of guests on the show from all walks of the park. You will laugh, you will cry, you may want to come through your listening device and choke us, even call and curse us out! And that is fine. But if you like Culture, Fashion, Philosophy, Business, Traveling, In a Relationship or NOT! This Podcast is for you. Sipping with Maria & Tika Gee podcast. Philadelphia to Costa Rica on a vision quest journey with Richard Blank. https://youtu.be/ulqS8ZgEg1A?si=zuptniQVfvaNqPt- https://youtu.be/0lK1fZGX8Q Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Richard Blank Call Center commercial with Rapper GblackDaBest and Freestyle break-dancer Yeik Lawson Rodríguez. https://youtu.be/GQvGZYcX71s?si=3I6N3p-LVxwTvnh2 The Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University. A Costa Ricas Call Center visit with Richard Blank. https://youtu.be/prcJZJnTm28 Sipping with Maria & Tika Gee podcast. Episode #10. End of Season 2 Reunion: Tomeka, Dana & Richard. https://youtu.be/TJ92rBNNIkw?si=slzwEO8x4uFl9-cD Richard Blank is the CEO and Founder of Costa Ricas Call Center, a leader in bilingual call center and customer service outsourcing, known for blending human connection with technology and innovative workplace culture. Human-centered approach: Richard highlights the importance of empathy, interpersonal communication, and cultural alignment in customer interactions, believing automation should enhance but not replace human representatives Technology integration: Voice automation and AI handle routine tasks, enabling human representatives to focus on complex calls and relational problem-solving Scalable growth strategy: Blank advocates starting small with minimal risk, investing in people, and expanding strategically while maintaining operational flexibility Employee development: Continuous training emphasizes communication skills, positive escalation techniques, and bilingual proficiency to ensure outstanding service quality Richard Blank leads Costa Ricas Call Center with a motivational, empathetic, and culturally sensitive approach, emphasizing communication, gamification, emotional intelligence, and employee engagement to build a high-performing team. Motivational and Communication-Focused Leadership Richard Blank is known for his motivational public speaking style paired with tactful rhetoric, which he uses to inspire and train his team effectively Costa Rica's Call Center He emphasizes mastering communication skills, helping telemarketers handle rejections, improve persuasion, and maintain confidence under pressure extraordinary-america.com Blank also stresses the importance of speaking the local language to build rapport and respect with employees, fostering better team cohesion in a culturally diverse environment Gamification and Engagement A distinctive element of his leadership is the use of gamification. By integrating his collection of restored American pinball machines and antique jukeboxes into the workplace culture, he creates a fun and engaging environment that motivates employees and encourages creativity. The call center fostering a creative and engaging environment that improves morale and retention This approach makes skill development interactive, boosting both performance and morale. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Blank strongly advocates emotional intelligence and empathy as core leadership attributes He encourages leaders to understand their team members perspectives, support them effectively, and cultivate loyalty and trust. This extends to appreciating long-term employees and recognizing their contributions to organizational success. Strategic and Visionary Leadership Blank combines day-to-day management with long-term strategic thinking. He actively trains staff through personalized mentoring and emphasizes resilience, risk-taking, and continuous learning extraordinary-america.com He also leverages international partnerships and cross-cultural strategies to expand Costa Rica's business appeal on a global scale Costa Rica's Call Center Creating a Positive Corporate Culture Richards leadership style is centered on building a positive corporate culture that enhances employee morale, productivity, and engagement By blending structure with flexibility, he encourages open communication, provides constructive feedback, and fosters a sense of personal ownership and pride in work accomplishments. Training and Development Approach