As for many of us, it is a tradition for me to reflect on the year that is coming to an end; from a business but also a personal perspective. I am thinking about what went well, what could have been better, and what I can’t wait to repeat or continue working on in the year ahead.

First of all, it can prove challenging for me at times to strictly divide my personal life from business – because, to me, CLIQ is more than just my company. For over a decade now, I’ve invested my passion, creativity and energy into it, and I’m incredibly proud of the progress that my “baby” has made over time.

CLIQ finds itself in times of transition. Our business motto for 2022 was “Together to the next level” – and we have lived it. For years, we have connected the right target groups with digital content by combining our digital marketing expertise with business intelligence. By doing so, we have developed into an industry leader.

We have done a lot of thinking and research, and we now know that it is time to bring our all-in-one subscription-based streaming services to the next level. We will introduce them to a localised audience, based on a strategy which is new and exciting to us: brand marketing. Our first branded flagship store Cliq.de was one of the big projects this year, with several passionate teams – from Technology, and Product Management to Marketing – working together to launch our platform in Germany.

My goal has always been to offer entertainment to everybody, and with our “best-of-alles” offer, it has never been easier.

We’ve learned that change means also a lot of trial-error/trial-error moments, breaks and new attempts, with the aim straight to bring an outstanding product to the market. Last week, Cliq.de went live, and I hope it will make many customers happy in 2023.

But also from a cultural perspective, we have grown this year. Many teams have gotten bigger, we have created new departments and together we have built on our collective strengths. CLIQ is incredibly diverse, multinational, open-minded and passionate. And we feel this energy in all offices as well as on all office floors. Also from a personal perspective, I felt some change this year. I could even call it optimisation. My family and I moved into a new house and left our old beloved home, to find a new, better one. I optimised my work-life balance by strengthening my health and sport routines, and I enjoyed unforgettable moments with my family, friends and colleagues to the fullest. I’m a fan of the “work hard, play hard” mentality. I like challenges. If I have the chance to reach for the stars, I will. It’s important to not be afraid to try new things, even if it can be uncomfortable – my mindset is: growth is not supposed to be comfortable.

Finally, in these silent days of the year, the days of love and gratefulness, I’m looking back on 12 intense months which offered us a passionate commitment to new challenges. I’m proud of the way we have paved the way for another successful year ahead. I’m grateful for the people around me that inspire me every day, and I’m proud of all levels and achievements we have reached so far.

All over the world, Cliqers are returning home to spend the holidays with their family and friends, charge their batteries and get themselves ready for all our amazing plans for 2023. And so am I!

On behalf of the whole management board, I would like to say thank you to all our colleagues, investors, customers, partners and other stakeholders. Have a great holiday season and a happy and healthy 2023.