Axel Saizonou
Captured by François Mittins
Making It Real
In this talk, Axel Saizonou opens with a simple gap: lots of people have ideas, but far fewer actually build. He shares the first time he crossed that gap in 2013, producing a free uOttawa talent show with friends and realizing the real power wasn’t the stage, it was the connections that came out of it.
That same drive leads to Pieces of Us in 2022, created because he was tired of artists being treated like an afterthought at open mics. He and his team built a high-quality, theme-driven event series that respected performers, valued guests, and quickly grew into a monthly operation with real pressure behind the scenes.
As the platform expanded into new concepts like Deeply Rooted and 613 R&B, Axel talks about the realities of growth: team changes, attendance dips, burnout, and the stress of leading. The turning point is a Montreal show that looked great to guests but missed break-even, forcing him to confront ego, responsibility, and the emotional weight of a leadership “L.”
After a break and a lot of reflection, he reframes the loss as information. He learns to give himself grace, build better systems, delegate properly, and lead with transparency. That shift leads to Culture Ties, a consolidated umbrella that supports three lanes: producing their own events, giving back through community initiatives, and offering services in media, marketing, and event production. He closes by challenging the audience to stop protecting their ideas and start making something real.
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