How to Turn Your Passion into a Profession
Hello from a buzzing Friday night at The Hoxton! We were thrilled to host this special live episode at Berlin’s Hoxton, where we welcomed Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe, founder of clicqui, to bring our communities together for an unforgettable evening.
We sat down with Cynthia to discuss passion projects, collaboration over competition, the power of building a strong women-led community, and… medieval makeup practices (trust us, it’ll make sense when you listen to the full episode!).
Hailing from Munich, Cynthia founded clicqui in 2023 as a Berlin-based social platform designed to help millennial and Gen Z women build real friendships through curated in-person events. With a strong focus on community, connection, and a way to combat loneliness, what began as a passion project has since expanded to cities such as Munich, Copenhagen, and Paris.
But Cynthia hasn’t stopped at just dinners. In 2024, she launched KORE, a boutique strength training studio in Berlin-Mitte that’s redefining how we move, connect, and thrive.
“I just like to be surrounded by amazing people who just see me as I am.”
Cynthia began the conversation by sharing the challenges she faced growing up – feeling out of place as one of the few children from an immigrant background in Munich. Her father had moved to the city from West Africa in the ’90s, and it was his perseverance in building a life in Germany despite the difficulties he faced that inspired Cynthia to find her own inner strength and keep pushing forward.
“The older you get you realise the importance of the things that shaped you.”
With determination in her DNA, Cynthia reflected on the early days of her career and the importance of carving out her own path to financial independence. She began working in the corporate world at a young age, drawn to the stability and security she believed she needed. But over time, she realised that wasn’t enough and what she truly longed for was purpose and passion in her work.
And with this realisation, she took a leap into the unknown and made a life-changing move to Berlin! However, like some of the audience that evening, it wasn’t love at first sight, with Cynthia struggling with a growing disconnect between her old life in Munich and the new one she had hoped to build in the capital. It was then that she knew she had to build her own community around her.
“When you become a certain age, you don’t know how to make friends. It’s hard.”
Inspired by the chance to “meet amazing people in Berlin,” Cynthia began hosting her own dinner series, planting the seeds of what would eventually grow into the widely recognised platform, clicqui.
What began as a passion project with hosting intimate dinners with a curated group of women, quickly grew into a powerful movement, expanding to include art walks, events, and running clubs as new ways to connect with women in Berlin. But as the momentum built, Cynthia spoke about how she found herself struggling to balance it all – juggling a full-time role at Klarna alongside a packed calendar of events made it clear that something had to give.
But as many of us know all too well, that kind of pace isn’t sustainable forever. Eventually, Cynthia realised it was time to pause and reflect, not just on what mattered in her professional life, but also on what she needed in her personal life.
“I put all my heart and energy into clicqui because it gave me so much energy.”
It was the realisation that she was on the brink of burnout that led Cynthia to make another major life change and decided to step away from her role at Klarna and focus on turning her passion into a professional business.
In a deeply emotional moment, Cynthia spoke from the heart about how this journey with clicqui and KORE has impacted her. She shared how the community she has built has transformed her life, even amidst the struggles she has faced, and expressed her gratitude to the women who’ve come into her world, saying, “Thank you”. Her message to everyone in the room that evening was simple – sometimes, it’s important to slow down, take a step back, and realign your priorities. Cynthia’s strength and openness are a testament to all she’s achieved in such a short time, as well as the lasting friendships and connections she’s helped create along the way.
As the conversation drew to a close, guests were invited to join in the Wintergarden for an evening of drinks, great conversation, and of course some funky tunes to get us in the party mood.
A huge thank you to The Hoxton for hosting this unforgettable evening in a very special location and for keeping the drinks flowing, to The House of Tandoor for the delicious snacks we couldn’t stop nibbling on, and to KORE for the thoughtful gift. Until next time!
