Nena Brockhaus - Biography
Nena Brockhaus is a business journalist, bestselling author, political commentator and sought-after TV presenter.
With her trenchant language and sharp analyses, she is one of the most opinionated voices of the younger generation. She tackles topics that polarise – and hits the nerve of the times.
Her talks are passionate appeals for personal responsibility, performance, economic rationality and an honest culture of debate. She combines socio-political observations with personal experiences and prominent voices. Whether on stage or on television: Nena Brockhaus is clear, contentious – and never boring.
Nena Brockhaus Lecture topics
- More money than brains
Why Germany is failing not because of money, but because of attitude.
Nena Brockhaus analyses the political and economic misguided developments in Germany: from escalating consultancy fees to the erosion of the ‘Made in Germany’ myth. A lecture for anyone who wants to understand why investing billions does not solve problems – and what really helps.
- OLD WISE MEN – What we can learn from them
A plea for virtues, discipline and personal responsibility.
In the midst of over-regulation and a sense of entitlement, Brockhaus recalls the generation of values of the 1940s and 1950s. It quotes personalities such as Wolfgang Reitzle, Stefan Aust and Edmund Stoiber – and shows why old virtues are more relevant today than ever.
- Politics, Economy & Society – The state of the nation
Are we a country in permanent crisis?
Financial, energy or values crisis – Germany lurches from debate to debate. Brockhaus analyses the political and social climate between alarmism, division and denial of reality.
- Work-life balance – the life lie of our time
Why performance must be given value again.
The debate about the 4-day week and self-care often eclipses the importance of work ethic and commitment. Brockhaus calls for a new culture of endeavour – and exposes the work-life balance as a deceptive feel-good concept.
- Generation Y and Z – A life for the limelight
How social media is shaping the younger generations.
Between self-presentation and the search for meaning: Brockhaus describes how Instagram and TikTok are changing the way the younger generation thinks, feels and works – and what this means for our society.
Who is Nena Brockhaus?
Born in 1992, Nena Brockhaus studied in Maastricht and trained at the renowned Georg von Holtzbrinck School of Journalism. She landed her first SPIEGEL bestseller with ‘Unfollow’ at the age of 26. This was followed by ‘Pretty Happy’, ‘Ich bin nicht grün’ and ‘Alte WEISE Männer’. In February 2025, she reached number 1 on the SPIEGEL bestseller list with ‘Mehr Geld als Verstand’.
She became known throughout Germany as a presenter on the political talk show Viertel nach Acht on BILD. Today, she concentrates on her work as a columnist (including for Focus Online) and speaker. She regularly appears as a political commentator on programmes such as Maischberger, ZDF 13 Fragen and Stern TV.
Her style? Direct, courageous, opinionated – the antithesis of the mainstream.