Broligarchy – When Founders Became Kings: A Former Tech Bro Speaks Out

The investigative journalist Carol Cadwalladr coined the term Broligarchy to describe the rise of a predominantly male tech elite quietly reshaping our democracies. In this keynote, Aya Jaff brings a deeply personal perspective to the conversation — not from the outside looking in, but from someone who was once part of it.

Ten years ago, she was swept up in the world of startups, code, and endless scaling potential. What were the dominant ideas back then? What political beliefs were baked into that culture? And how did this seemingly progressive industry become a hub of unchecked power? This talk doesn’t just critique — it offers pathways. Aya explores realistic, already-tested ways of building companies that share ownership, embed responsibility, and resist extractive logic. With vulnerability and empathy, she asks: could this power dynamic have been prevented? And more importantly — can we still change course?

Because in this system, no one is immune. And that’s exactly why we need to talk about it.

This programme session is supported by Stiftung Mercator. / Dieser Programmpunkt wird durch die Stiftung Mercator unterstützt.