Hi there, nice to meet you!
I am Cloudy, based in London and Berlin, but at home in the world.
What I do for a living cannot be described in one sentence, as a I am a true German “Tausendsassa” aka a multi-hyphen woman: I do 10 things at once but all with 100 % of my heart, passion & purpose.
– entrepreneur, digital media expert, creative & strategic consultant, business woman, interior designer, writer, life coach, podcaster, TV presenter, event host, conference speaker, mentor –
… call me what you want, but I am the perfect example that anything in life is possible if you dream big and work hard.
Cloudy Zakrocki is a journalist, mentor, and author with a deep-rooted passion for language, identity, and self-expression. She studied German Studies, English Studies, and Art History at the University of Heidelberg, where she earned a Magister degree (Master’s equivalent), laying the foundation for her storytelling-driven career.
Cloudy began her career as a writer at LesMads, Germany’s first and most influential fashion blog, where she helped shape the country’s early digital media landscape. With a strong editorial voice and a deep understanding of culture, she rose to become editor-in-chief at Interview Germany and later Global Vice President for international Content & Brand Strategy Refinery29 Germany. In these roles, she led teams, built cross-platform strategies, and redefined how modern media speaks to women—bold, inclusive, and ahead of the curve.
In 2024, Cloudy wrote her first book – a bold and empowering take on manifestation that’s deeply rooted in self-awareness, psychology, and neuroscience. With her unique voice, she redefines manifestation as a powerful way of life, based not on wishful thinking, but on clarity, mindset, and conscious action.
what I did (for now):
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what I've founded
HAND IN HAND, Mikado Culture & Only Good People
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what I've said
magazines, podcasts, TV shows & newspapers
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where I've spoken
conferences, panels & brand events
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what else I've done
collaborations, creative direction, testimonial
“Just because it has never been done before, it does NOT mean it cannot be done.”
-Cloudy Zakrocki
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2005 - 2011, University of Heidelberg
MA German studies (linguistics & literature)
MA English studies (linguistics & literature)
BA History of Art
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2006: one of the first bloggers in Germany
2010: one of the two women leading LesMads, Germany’s leading fashion blog owned by the publishing company Burda
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2013: I took on the role als Digital Editor In Chief at INTERVIEW Magazine Germany, relaunched the site and without any invest pushed it to one of the highest traffic in German lifestyle media.
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In 2016, I launched Refinery29 in the German market and run it as the Editor In Chief and Managing Director.
In 2018, I launched Refinery29 in France.
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In 2018, I became the global Vice President for International Content & Brand Strategy at Refinery29.
In 2019, Refinery29 merged with VICE Media Group.
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In 2023, Cloudy Zakrocki co-founded 2nd home together with Michael Munder – a curated platform for sustainable vintage furniture and home decor. The mission of 2nd home is to make it easier for design lovers to discover unique second-hand pieces while promoting a more conscious and sustainable approach to buying high-quality interior objects. The launch of her own interior brand a few years ago marked the kickoff for everything that followed in her interior-related ventures.
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In 2021, I co-founded two companies:
MIKADO Culture is a full service agency for talent products & brands.
ONLY GOOD PEOPLE is a creative-collective for customized brand building, talent collaborations & full service campaign strategy.
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For twelve years now, I’ve also been working as a freelance consultant for creative strategy & brand building.
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Writing is in my DNA. Since I was a kid, I was reading books and writing my own stories. For over a decade now, I’ve been writing personal essays, long format reportages and interviews in German and English for international magazines.
