People mean everything here. 🫶 It’s all about connecting. Meet Catalina 👋
When Catalina Fernández thinks about her journey to the LEGO Group, she still remembers the moment it began. It was her birthday in Colombia, when a LEGO® recruiter contacted her about a role overseas. Today she’s based in Prague, Czech Republic and leads the Business Service Operations (BSO) organization for EMEA, guiding our largest service centers. Her story is shaped by courage, opportunity and a deep belief that people come first.
“I’m a mother of two young children. The chance to move from a huge corporate to a business known for its playfulness and work/life balance made a lot of sense to me. In my previous company, the hours were long and the culture was completely different. I wanted a place where I could be myself, where I could be friendly, and have more balance. I ‘ve never regretted saying yes. I love this company.”
At first, Catalina joined the shared services center in Monterrey, Mexico, supporting the Americas. It was a step that broadened her technical world far beyond what she had done before.
“In my previous role, I was looking at one stream. Suddenly, I had visibility of everything. Payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial processes. We were connected to every single employee and to so many of the company’s processes. It was fascinating. I was learning every day.”
When she later moved to Prague, her responsibilities grew again.
“In America, we had 100 people. Here we have almost 300. This is the biggest shared service centre in the whole business. Sixty percent of the company’s volume and scope sits here. So I went from managing one region to helping lead the largest operation we have. It’s been an amazing journey of expanding and learning.”
She credits her leaders for encouraging her to take brave steps.
“My manager trusted me. He did not push me, but he gave me the courage to take on something bigger. That kind of trust stays with you.”
For Catalina, the moments she cherishes most are the human ones.
“One of my most emotional moments was when we announced in Monterrey that I was moving to Prague. We did the meeting over Teams because my manager was in Billund. I was crying. I loved my team. But when I left the room, many members of my team were crying too. I did not expect that. It showed me how connected we were. It touched my heart.”
Another moment came just before opening the new Prague office.
“The day before the office opened, I told my leaders we needed to get everything ready for our team. The office was empty. Twelve of us were there cleaning, organizing, and preparing every detail so that when people arrived, it would feel special. That moment showed how much we care. It’s more than just an office. It’s somewhere our people can thrive.”
BSO Prague covers a wide range of services. Employee services support colleagues from hiring to payroll. Financial services cover everything from order creation to customer payment, vendor invoicing, accounting and financial planning.
The impact, Catalina says, travels far beyond the walls of the center.
“We manage financial accuracy and compliance. We take care of talented colleagues across the company. We make sure people are paid correctly and on time. Every accurate process, every decision, allows the business to reinvest in what really matters. Whether that’s amazing experiences for fans or giving teams more time with customers and kids. That is the impact we have.”
When asked what she finds most rewarding, her answer is immediate.
“Connecting with people. I’m in the office almost every day because I love talking to colleagues. I love having a coffee in the kitchen and listening. We also connect with stakeholders across the company. You hear different strategies, and you help enable them. Everyone here is nice. It makes connecting very natural.”
Challenges, she believes, are a chance to grow together.
“I like to see challenges as opportunities to build relationships. It might be a mistake or something difficult, but it is also a moment to connect with another team and find solutions together. We are one team. When something new comes up, we look at how to do it better. How to standardize, how to improve. Even with the LEGO Ask chatbot, there is so much creativity coming from the teams. Everyone brings ideas.”
What makes BSO Prague special, she says, is the energy.
“We have fun. In meetings, we still laugh, even when there is pressure. Someone makes a comment and suddenly you’re smiling. It is a fun place, full of energy. “We’re growing too. As we expand our services, we need new people with different skills. There will be many opportunities - and we prioritize development. That’s very important here.
“My advice to anyone is this: be yourself. Look for what gives you energy. Be brave. Our office is very diverse and that is part of our strength. We want you to bring who you are.”
Just imagine your LEGO® career.