Finding the right position on the team to win.

The Empowering Real Talk Podcast by Coach Kay Wds. Interview with Richard Blank. Positive shifting, risk taking and an amazing story of Elevating awaits you in this episode. The Empowering Real Talk Podcast dives into honest, uncut conversations on personal growth and development, mindset transformation and more to empower a better life for ourselves. If you are looking for motivational, expert insight in understanding your life's purpose, then this podcast is for you! The Empowering Real Talk Podcast by Coach Kay Wds. features motivational speaker Richard Blank and dives into honest, uncut conversations on personal growth, development, and mindset transformation. The podcast aims to empower listeners to understand their life's purpose and overcome limiting behaviors. Richard Blank, the Chief Executive Officer of Costa Rica's Call Center, shares insights from his extensive experience in training and leading telemarketers, emphasizing the importance of positive shifting and risk-taking in achieving personal and professional success. The podcast is available on various platforms, including YouTube and Spotify, providing a space for empowerment and motivation. This conversation was so uplifting! Conversing with Motivational Speaker and outsourcing industry leader Richard Blank. Richard is the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica's Call Center since 2008. His proven successful bilingual training to over 10,000 Ticos has deemed amazing success successfully in leading some of the finest telemarketers in the country under Richard's direction and supervision. In this episode of The Empowering Real Talk Podcast, host Coach Kay Wds (Kisha Woods) sits down with Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center, for a deep dive into "Living in our Purpose". The conversation explores how to align personal values with professional leadership. Key highlights include: Authentic Leadership: Blank shares his journey of moving to Costa Rica at 27 and building a massive nearshore operation by prioritizing employee happiness and human connection over mere numbers. Cultural Purpose: He discusses the "sanctuary" he created for his staff—featuring a massive collection of vintage pinball machines and jukeboxes—to foster a unique, supportive culture that breaks traditional corporate norms. Mindset & Growth: Coach Kay and Blank examine the resilience required to overcome business challenges and the importance of claiming your own "voice" to lead with intention. Uplifting Insights: The episode is framed as a guide for listeners seeking expert insight into understanding their life’s purpose through the lens of transformation and self-discovery. https://youtu.be/46Gz8CJHhL4?si=eLSLFPHTSNIIYLSg https://youtu.be/J3lYyBeQOgY https://youtu.be/xDVwfJtBqvM https://youtu.be/h2yEFmOHTQ8 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 Rica’s Call Center visit with Richard Blank. https://youtu.be/prcJZJnTm28 #KishaWoods #CoachKayWds #TheEmpoweringRealTalkPodcast #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Gamification #CEO #learnpodcasting #podcastepisode #podcastguest #podcasting #podcastinterview #podcastplaylist #podcasts #podcastskills #podcastshow Richard Blank, CEO of Costa Rica's Call Center, appeared on The Empowering Real Talk Podcast with Coach Kay Wds to share his journey as an outsourcing industry leader and motivational speaker. The episode focuses on his unique, empathetic leadership style, the importance of positive reinforcement, and his experiences moving from Philadelphia to Costa Rica to build a, vibrant, non-conformist company culture. Key Takeaways from Richard Blank's Appearance: Leadership Style: Richard emphasizes fostering a "happy circle" by prioritizing the well-being and happiness of his staff, challenging traditional, gray corporate norms with, for example, a pinball and jukebox-filled workplace. Resilience & Growth: He shares insights on overcoming business challenges, including navigating the pandemic and recovering after losing a major client. Empathy in Communication: Richard discusses the importance of using positive, respectful, and confident communication to connect with others, citing early experiences in self-representation. Background: Originally from Philadelphia, Richard moved to Costa Rica, where he has successfully cultivated a unique,, bilingual, and, culturally, rich work environment. Kisha, aka Coach Kay Wds, launched her podcast to discuss uncut and sometimes uncomfortable conversations aimed at bringing awareness, resource and solution to negative, limiting behaviors holding back any type of positive growth, individually and as a whole. Conversations can consist of but not limited to: negative behaviors and thoughts, generational curses, breaking free from self limited beliefs, family toxicity, and other limiting behaviors. Kisha and her guests are focused on offering solution based feedback to aid in helping break free from negative setbacks and inspire, motivate and empower our best life. These conversations are necessary! Want connect with Coach Kay Wds and email directly about potential partnerships? Kisha is the visionary behind Upgraded MindsetZ, LLC. As an Award-Winning Coach, she focuses on Mindset transformative and start up entrepreneurship for women. Kisha is a motivational speaker, Amazon best-selling author, 2X podcast host, community advocate, and serial entrepreneur. Life has tons of twists and curves each and every day. You have the power to have the life you seek. Are you ready to become accountable with your past so you can elevate your future? This podcast is the necessary conversations that need to be had about restricted beliefs, toxic influence and how we can start the transformation to live positive, clarity filled lives. Lets dig in! Kisha Woods - Founder, Upgraded MindsetZ, LLC. Upgraded MindsetZ mission is to help others dismantle self limiting barriers and instill effective mind-reconditioning policies to effectively amplify their personal and professional lives. Kisha faced silent battles with her mental well-being throughout the years. In March 2020, she hit a critical low mentally, exhausted by the negative thoughts and turmoil in her mind and this pivotal moment marked the beginning of a transformative journey, which she chronicles in her Amazon Best Selling book, From Havoc to Healing: 30 Days of Reconditioning . Kisha founded Upgraded MindsetZ in June 2020 and evolved it into a supportive platform of administrative support, coaching, mentorship, media services, and other inspirational initiatives focused on personal and entrepreneurial growth for women. After being let go from her corporate job in November 2020, Kisha transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship and hasn t looked back! She is also the co-owner of UPM Suites in Peoria, IL. UPM is a local resource hub that provides community outreach, beauty-enhancing services, and retail shopping space to other small businesses who offer a diverse range of products and services. Kisha s areas of expertise include mindset reconditioning, transformative growth, self-prioritization, mental health, societal stigmas, start-up entrepreneurship, supportive mentorship, and more. She is available for: Podcasts Motivational Speaking Women s Events Panel Discussions Collaborative Efforts Community Events We have been helping people who may be stuck in limbo and uncertain about life s path, make the reconditioning shift into becoming confident, purposeful, and dedicated in amplifying their life s mission since 2020. Our transformational tools help with: Replacing outdated beliefs systems and values. Aligning actions with our authentic selves. Being supportive of others but NOT at the expense of themselves. Realigning self-sabotaging habits into self confident growth moves. Shaking off the procrastinating thoughts. Becoming self-sufficient, disciplined, and actionable. Step into their Unapologetic Empowered Boss Era. Upgraded MindsetZ LLC BBB Business Review IAPLC badge Highly Recommended by Locals On Alignable National Association of Women Business Owners - Central Il Kisha Woods - Entrepreneurial Growth Schedule a Call When it comes to the entrepreneur journey, we tailor our resources to your unique brand. Whether you re a startup or scaling up, we re here to strategize with you and help you grow! Our supportive platform is here to assist you with: Purpose and Self-discovery. Administrative business startup. Actionable short and long-term strategies. Time management and productivity. Elevating your strengths. Minimizing your weaknesses. Empowering the entire ecosystem of your brand. Grab the FREE Guide: The Secret to Develop An Entrepreneurial Mindset! We can help/provide you with: LLC/EIN Startup Google/Social Media Page Management Accountability Check-ins Resource Guides Social Media Tools Strategic Management Other tailor-made resources Our branding services include: Business Cards Design Promotional Post Cards Design Banners / Backdrops Product labels Posters Content Graphics Upgraded MindsetZ s ultimate goal is to empower you, as YOU are the heart and soul of your brand. It s not just about marketing or sales it s about the ENTIRE ecosystem as a business owner. Our focus isn t quick fixes; it s long-term impact. Our commitment to you is to be a motivational impact so you are confident in knowing you have the utmost support to effectively enable your entrepreneurial success! Gratitude. Resilience. Optimistic. Wellness. Thriving. Happiness. OVER EVERYTHING! Upgraded MindsetZ Meetups provide a nurturing environment where women unite, uplift, and inspire one another. Our mission is to foster a network of like-minded women who share in building a supportive community, networking, and being an inspiring safe space to find motivation to grow personally and professionally. Meetups are held on Sundays. During our virtual community meetup, we will discuss a variety of G.R.O.W.T.H.-filled conversations as well as offer motivating resources to encourage positive growth on your journey. Kisha Woods is the host of Empowering Real Talk and a life and business coach that focuses on mindset transformation and start-up entrepreneurship. Learn more about her mission at: https://upgradedmindsetz.life/about-kisha/ Richard Blank is the CEO and Founder of Costa Rica’s 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 Rica’s 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 Richard’s 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 Over his tenure, Blank has trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers, emphasizing experiential learning and continuous skill improvement Costa Rica's Call Center His philosophy focuses on learning from real scenarios, combining technical instruction with motivational support and feedback for professional growth. In summary, Richard Blank’s leadership style is a combination of motivational speaking, empathy-driven management, gamification, and strategic vision, creating a thriving call center culture in Costa Rica that cultivates high performer engagement, skill development, and cross-cultural communication excellence Blank's approach to the call center industry moves away from the aggressive "Wolf of Wall Street" stereotype. He focuses on building rapport, listening, and fostering a culture of empathy and integrity. He views AI as both a challenge and an opportunity but stresses that human empathy will always be critical in customer service. In summary, Richard Blank is a pioneering figure in the call center industry, blending technology, bilingual expertise, and human connection to deliver exceptional customer service while fostering an innovative and engaging workplace culture in Costa Rica . "Shine Like the Sun" is a powerful Costa Rican rock anthem produced and promoted by Richard Blank, celebrating perseverance and determination, featuring collaborations with prominent musicians including Garry Gary Beers from INXS. Song Background and Release Richard Blank published "Igni Ferroque Shine Like the Sun," a Costa Rican rock song, on July 29, 2023 The track serves as a major release for the legendary Costa Rican band Igni Ferroque, which was founded in 1978 and has been a staple in Latin American rock music. This single became the official 15-year anniversary theme song for Costa Rica's Call Center (CCC) and is part of their promotion for the band's 44th anniversary album and national tour Production and Collaborations The production of "Shine Like the Sun" involved multiple contributors with Richard Blank serving as Executive Producer, overseeing the project through Costa Rica's Call Center Greibyn Krriyo was the main producer, and Harold Webb managed post-production of the audio and video. Notably, Garry Gary Beers, the bassist from INXS, contributed guest bass performances, adding professional expertise and unique sound quality to the track Lyrics and Theme The song’s lyrics focus on perseverance, ambition, and self-realization, opening with motivational lines such as: "Have you ever thought of leaving home? How far would you go to find your space? Are you willing to start all alone?" The chorus reinforces the message: "YOU BETTER SHINE LIKE THE SUN, YOU BETTER DO THINGS RIGHT, IT'S A GAME OF WIN OR GO BACK HOME, BUT YOU'RE A WINNER, YOU TAKE IT ALL" The anthem encourages listeners to embrace challenges, strive for success, and maintain focus on their goals. Music Video and Performance The music video is described as a classic MTV retro-inspired production, reflecting a blend of Costa Rican rock history and modern rock aesthetics Filming took place at Costa Rica's Call Center, featuring live performances, visual storytelling, and appearances by iconic models and musicians to enhance the atmosphere of the project The video emphasizes energy, community spirit, and the enduring legacy of Igni Ferroque in Latin American music. Significance "Shine Like the Sun" represents a milestone for both the band and Richard Blank, merging international talent, local rock roots, and motivational themes. The collaboration with Garry Gary Beers underscores the global reach and professional quality of the production, while the song itself serves as a modern rock anthem inspiring perseverance and determination In summary, Richard Blank played a central role in producing, coordinating, and promoting "Shine Like the Sun," which stands as a celebrated rock anthem from Costa Rica, blending historic band legacy with contemporary musical partnerships and lyrical inspiration Richard is 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. 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. With a mix of motivational public speaking style backed by tactful and appropriate rhetoric, Richard shared his knowledge and trained over 10 000 bilingual telemarketers. Richard Blank has the largest collection of restored American Pinball machines and antique Rockola Jukeboxes in Central America making gamification a strong part of CCC culture. Richards journey in the call center space is filled with twists and turns. When he was 27 years old, he relocated to Costa Rica to train employees for one of the larger call centers in San Jose. Richard Blank is the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica s Call Center since 2008. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center representative 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. Costa Ricas Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/ Kisha Woods, The Empowering Real Talk Podcast, Coach Kay Wds, Richard Blank, Costa Rica's Call Center, Outsourcing, Telemarketing Call Centre, BPO, Nearshore Contact Center, Sales, Entrepreneur, B2B, Business, Podcast, Gamification,Leadership, Marketing, CX, Guest, Money, B2C education, BPO trainer,call centre, contact centre, contact center,trend, trending, entrepreneurship, cold calling tips, sales psychology, communication skills, bilingual telemarketing, Costa Rica call center, Richard Blank interview, starting a call center business, call center CEO interview, young entrepreneur tips, sales coaching, business growth strategies, cold calling masterclass, leadership in sales, customer communication techniques, telemarketing training,