For many, borders are rigid divisions—separating countries, cultures, and people. But for Lars, borders are just scars of history—reminders of past conflicts that should no longer dictate how we work or connect.
Born in Germany but raised in the Netherlands from the age of six, Lars learned early on that being from a different place could make you an outsider. In Dutch schools, he faced teasing for being German. When he moved to another region of the Netherlands for his studies, even within the same country, the differences were noticeable. These experiences reinforced a simple but powerful truth: where we come from doesn’t matter—what we do together does.
Breaking Borders Through Experience
Lars’s perspective shifted dramatically during his six-month European Erasmus Foundation study program. Surrounded by students from all over Europe, he realized that in the right environment, nationality didn’t matter. Collaboration, ideas, and shared goals transcended borders. This moment wasn’t just about education—it was about discovering the kind of world he wanted to work in.
But the real world wasn’t as open-minded. After his studies, Lars sent out hundreds of applications, facing rejection after rejection. Without immediate opportunities, he took not-so-glamorous temp jobs, refusing to let setbacks define him. Eventually, CTX Europe hired him part-time, offering his first real chance.
Then came another challenge: CTX Europe shut down operations in the Netherlands. Instead of seeing it as a failure, Lars saw an opportunity. He volunteered to assist in transitioning operations to the UK and moved to Watford, UK—his first step into international business.
A Career Built on Global Collaboration
Lars’s time in the UK proved that borders didn’t matter—what mattered was working with the right people to make things better and more efficient. He worked alongside colleagues from different backgrounds, solving technical problems and streamlining IT services across multiple regions. It wasn’t about nationality; it was about competence, collaboration, and impact.
When his UK employer showed signs of instability, Lars didn’t wait—he took control of his future and moved again, this time to Prague, Czech Republic. There, he refined his technical skills, diving into automation, process optimization, and IT service management. His ability to identify inefficiencies and create solutions caught the attention of a DHL support team, leading to a pivotal career shift.
From Europe to Latin America: Making a Global Impact
While many professionals work across borders, few move to another continent. In August 2017, Lars took that step, relocating from Europe to Heredia, Costa Rica—not just to take on a new job, but to build something from the ground up.
He set up the first ITS support group for DHL Supply Chain (DSC)—an initiative that continues to grow. In Costa Rica, he worked with people from all over the world, proving once again that nationality was irrelevant compared to teamwork, shared goals, and the drive to improve global operations.
After four years in Costa Rica, having built a solid foundation for the support team, he made another transition—moving back to Prague to take on new challenges. But his mission remained the same: work with the best people, regardless of where they are from, to make the world more efficient.
A Borderless Mindset for a Better Future
Lars’s career isn’t just about IT service management. It’s about connecting people, optimizing systems, and making real improvements on a global scale. From Europe to Latin America, from manual processes to automation, his focus has always been the same:
- How do we make this better?
- How do we work smarter?
- How do we improve things not just for ourselves, but for the world?
His journey proves that it doesn’t matter where we’re from—it matters what we do together. Borders are just remnants of history, but progress is built by those who look beyond them. Lars has spent his career working with people from all walks of life, and for him, the only thing that matters is working toward a common goal: making things better, faster, and more efficient for everyone.
Because in the end, it’s not about where you start—it’s about where you go and who you bring along with you.
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