Anita Zielina is reshaping media leadership with digital vision and bold career advice

Anita Zielina, a media executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, has built a career across leading German-speaking publications. Her roles have spanned editorial leadership, product development, and career advice in the evolving media landscape. Colleagues and industry leaders now recognise her as a key figure in modernising journalism and management practices.

Zielina began her career in senior editorial positions, serving as deputy editor-in-chief at both Stern in Germany and Der Standard in Austria. She later took on the role of chief product officer at Switzerland's Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), where she focused on digital innovation and audience engagement.

Beyond her work in media, she founded the Better Leaders Lab, a consulting firm specialising in leadership development and organisational change. Currently, she also teaches at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in New York, covering artificial intelligence, leadership, and decision-making.

Her expertise has earned her a seat on the supervisory board of Mediahuis, a major European media group. Julia Becker, publisher and supervisory board chair at Funke Mediengruppe, recently highlighted Zielina's deep understanding of digital transformation and modern management—skills that have shaped her influence across the industry.

Zielina's career reflects a blend of editorial leadership, digital strategy, and academic insight. Her work at top publications, her consulting firm, and her teaching role positions her as a driving force in media innovation. Industry leaders continue to turn to her for guidance on navigating the challenges of digital journalism.