Home Podcasts First Contact: Stories of the Call Center
First Contact: Stories of the Call Center

First Contact: Stories of the Call Center

NobelBiz Studios 65 Episodes Oct 22, 2025

First Contact: Stories of the Call Center is a monthly podcast that explores the unexpected journeys of tech leaders and entrepreneurs into the call center industry. Host Christian Montes interviews guests about their lives, struggles, and successes, focusing on how they ended up working with a headset. The podcast aims to shed light on the often overlooked world of call centers and the people behind them.

Episodes

Data-First Outbound, Building Performance and Trust | Guest: Joe Laskowski
Data-First Outbound, Building Performance and Trust | Guest: Joe Laskowski Oct 22, 2025 3201 Data first outbound that performs and protects. Joe Laskowski joins Christian to show how to build compliant outreach that still hits the number. They cover buyer and seller alignment, vendor proof of consent, DNC and STOP handling, AI in outreach, and launching tech quickly without creating risk. Guest: Joe Laskowski, CEO and Managing Partner, Saguaro Global Consulting Host: Christian Montes Sub
Outbound Survival Guide: AI, Robocalls, and Real Compliance: Eric Troutman
Outbound Survival Guide: AI, Robocalls, and Real Compliance: Eric Troutman Sep 17, 2025 3755 AI is changing outbound fast. So are lawsuits. The “TCPA Czar” Eric Troutman joins Christian to unpack how to run outreach without getting burned. We cover the class action surge, AI-driven calling, robocalls, Do Not Call rules, quiet hours, wrong numbers, reassigned numbers, loyalty SMS pitfalls, and the culture shifts needed to make compliance stick. Practical plays to protect your brand and kee
Call Center Growth Strategy: From Agent to CRO with Mike McGuire
Call Center Growth Strategy: From Agent to CRO with Mike McGuire Aug 20, 2025 4245 Mike McGuire, Chief Revenue Officer at NobelBiz, joins First Contact: Stories of the Call Center to share his incredible rise from teenage call center agent to industry leader shaping the future of CX. With decades of experience across fundraising, BPO operations, and technology, Mike opens up about the challenges of managing growth, balancing in-house and outsourced teams, and the real reasons w
From Intern to Innovator: Real‑Time Caller Insights & Entrepreneurial Grit, with Amanda Pietrocola
From Intern to Innovator: Real‑Time Caller Insights & Entrepreneurial Grit, with Amanda Pietrocola Jul 23, 2025 3532 In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, Amanda Pietrocola, CEO of Momentum Technology, shares her unconventional journey from college intern to tech entrepreneur. Dive into the launch of the Telecom Trust Center, a groundbreaking solution for real-time phone number intelligence and fraud prevention. Amanda also discusses how she navigates innovation with integrity, champion
From Cold Calls to Chatbots - The Evolution of Contact Centers: Phillp Bennett
From Cold Calls to Chatbots - The Evolution of Contact Centers: Phillp Bennett Jun 26, 2025 3612 AI bots beat humans: what does that say about your contact center? In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, Phil Bennett from Empire Today breaks down what most leaders get wrong about digital transformation. From the early days of chat support in 2002 to today’s AI-assisted agents, Phil has seen it all—and he’s got the hard truths (and ROI stats) to prove it. He shares why
The Most Underrated Driver of CX Performance? Your Headset, with Vern Fernandez
The Most Underrated Driver of CX Performance? Your Headset, with Vern Fernandez May 28, 2025 3000 In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, we go deep with Vern Fernandez from Jabra, the guy who's turning headsets into high-performance AI-powered CX tools. We're talking about devices that detect tone, improve agent empathy, reduce call times, and, even more impressively, alert you when your dog is barking too loudly to ensure a good customer experience. This isn’t some gad
How to Build a People-First Contact Center That Actually Reduces Turnover: Sam Falletta
How to Build a People-First Contact Center That Actually Reduces Turnover: Sam Falletta Apr 17, 2025 3586 How do you build a contact center where people want to stay? In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, we sit down with Sam Falletta, CEO of Incept, who shares how he built a people-first company culture that reduces turnover and drives performance. From rewriting rigid attendance policies to embedding mental health support into operations, Sam takes us deep into the realiti
From Cost Center to Profit Driver: The CX Transformation Blueprint: Camila Ferreira
From Cost Center to Profit Driver: The CX Transformation Blueprint: Camila Ferreira Mar 12, 2025 3163 Customer Experience (CX) isn't just about service—it's a revenue engine. In this episode, Christian Montes sits down with Camila Ferreira, Founder & CEO of Rise UP, to explore how businesses can transform CX from a cost center into a powerful growth driver. With over 20 years of global experience, Camila shares her journey from finance to CX leadership, the importance of data-driven strategies
AI-Driven Compliance & Sales: How Contact Centers Can Stay Ahead: Nima Hakimi
AI-Driven Compliance & Sales: How Contact Centers Can Stay Ahead: Nima Hakimi Feb 12, 2025 2695 AI is transforming sales and compliance in contact centers—are you keeping up? In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, Nima Hakimi, CEO & Co-Founder of Convoso, breaks down how AI-driven compliance, real-time agent coaching, and smarter tech adoption are reshaping the industry. Discover why most contact centers fail at implementing new technology, how to leverage AI witho
Debunking Business Myths: The Leadership Blueprint for Contact Centers: Steve Bederman
Debunking Business Myths: The Leadership Blueprint for Contact Centers: Steve Bederman Jan 15, 2025 4098 What if the biggest lessons you’ve learned about business and leadership were based on myths? In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, Christian Montes hosts Steve Bederman, President of NobelBiz, as they dive into the truths behind common leadership misconceptions. Steve unpacks the “family culture” myth in businesses, breaks down the complexities of loyalty in the workplace
What's Next for Contact Centers? Leadership, CX, and AI Insights: Colleen Beers
What's Next for Contact Centers? Leadership, CX, and AI Insights: Colleen Beers Nov 13, 2024 3965 In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, we sit down with Colleen Beers, a dynamic leader with over 20 years of experience in transforming the contact center and CX industry. From her journey from a call center agent to a top executive, Colleen shares invaluable insights on leadership, employee empowerment, and the future of customer experience. We explore how AI is revolutio
Empowering Women and Event Success in Lead Generation: Sara Malo
Empowering Women and Event Success in Lead Generation: Sara Malo Oct 16, 2024 3538 In this episode of First Contact: Stories of the Call Center, host Christian Montes sits down with marketing trailblazer Sara Malo to discuss her inspiring journey and her role in transforming the lead generation industry. As VP of Partnerships at Lead Generation World, President of LinkUnite, and a leader at Contact.io, Sara shares her experiences in breaking through barriers in a male-dominated

Recommended