How LEGO Built Back After Almost Losing Everything
The CEO Diary with Fexingo: Leadership Lessons, Executive Decisions, and Corner Office Stories · 2026-06-12 · 7 min
Episode notes
In 2003, LEGO was bleeding $1 million a day. The company had diversified into theme parks, clothing lines, and video games — and nearly bankrupted itself. Then a new CEO, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, did something radical: he got the company back to basics, sold off the non-core assets, and rebuilt around the brick. This episode of The CEO Diary dives into how LEGO staged one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern business history — cutting SKUs by 70 percent, reining in innovation, and engineering a supply chain that could actually keep up with demand. Lucas and Luna explore the specific decisions that saved the company, including the painful choice to stop pursuing growth for growth's sake. A masterclass in focus, discipline, and knowing what your product actually is. #LEGO #JørgenVigKnudstorp #BusinessTurnaround #ToyIndustry #SupplyChain #BrandFocus #InnovationStrategy #CorporateRestructuring #CEOLeadership #SimonSinek #CoreBusiness #OperationalExcellence #TheCEODiary #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Business #Leadership #ProductStrategy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo