Fifteen years ago, Liene moved from Latvia to Belgium, ready for a new chapter but unsure where her career would take her.
With a background in school management, the move offered a chance to explore a different path. An international environment and the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than a local team were exactly what she was looking for.
Today, Liene is a Senior Manager in R&C Operations at BDO's Global Office. As she approaches 15 years with BDO, her journey stands out not because of a carefully planned career path, but because of the relationships built, the opportunities that appeared unexpectedly and the lessons learned along the way.
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Working at BDO has provided the chance to collaborate with colleagues from different countries and cultures, bringing together diverse perspectives and finding new ways of working across the global network.
Along the way came opportunities to take on new challenges, step into unfamiliar territory and contribute to how colleagues work together internationally.
What has kept me at BDO is the combination of trust, flexibility and continuous learning. I've been encouraged to step outside my comfort zone, take on new challenges and help shape how we work as a global network.
Perhaps most importantly, I've built relationships with people across the organisation who continue to inspire me every day.
Creating connections sits at the heart of much of her work. Whether supporting global committees, coordinating conferences or welcoming new colleagues, the focus is often on helping people, ideas and information come together.
Working across countries and time zones brings complexity, but it also creates opportunities to learn from different perspectives and approaches.
For Liene, making an impact is often less about the task itself and more about helping others feel connected to the wider organisation.
I have learned that strong relationships not only make work more enjoyable, but also help teams perform at their best.
As the department expanded, a subtle shift became noticeable. With more colleagues joining the team, opportunities for informal conversations became less frequent and people no longer knew everyone as well as they once had. Rather than accepting this as a natural consequence of growth, Liene and a colleague looked for ways to strengthen connections across the department.
The result was a department Hub, an informal Microsoft Teams community and quarterly social calls that created space for people to exchange ideas, share experiences and get to know colleagues beyond their day-to-day responsibilities.
The positive feedback that followed highlighted just how much those connections mattered. Colleagues appreciated having opportunities to engage with people from different teams and regions, even when they rarely worked together directly.
For Liene, the experience reinforced a belief that has remained consistent throughout her career: strong teams require effort and intention.
When people feel connected, informed and included, they are more likely to collaborate effectively and enjoy what they do.
Looking back, opportunity is probably the word that best describes my journey at BDO. Every role, project, and challenge opened the door to something new.
The team works on global initiatives, partners with stakeholders around the world and balances competing priorities across different time zones. Collaboration isn't just important, it's essential. Different experiences and perspectives help strengthen the quality of the work and contribute to the team's success.
One of the things I value most about my team is the level of trust and openness we have built over time. We support each other not just as colleagues, but as people.
The curiosity that has shaped Liene's professional journey extends well beyond the workplace. Sports, gardening and home improvement projects all provide opportunities to learn new skills and take on fresh challenges.
Travel has also played an important role over the years.
Travel has taught me to stay open-minded, embrace change and appreciate what I have. It broadens your perspective and reminds you that there are many different ways to live, think and succeed.
Stay curious and be open to opportunities that may not be part of your original plan. Build relationships, ask questions and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You may be surprised where it leads.