“I have never found a conference or event that blends both business and art. My goal is to create a space where creatives and strategists can come together, learn from each other, and inspire one another,” says Andrew Aziz.
Photo by Beate Schonborn (IG: @beateschonborn)
When we learned that Andrew Aziz — a globally recognized entrepreneur, best-selling finance author, and elite mountaineer — and his company Bear Bull Traders were behind a TEDx conference in Vancouver, we immediately knew this was going to be an interesting story.
As we dug deeper, we were introduced to Andrew’s close friend and creative director of the event, Fares (Ahmed Elfares). Knowing Andrew’s background, we expected someone more conventional — but a 25-year-old Vancouver-based Egyptian queer performance artist was definitely not on our radar.
It wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that a man like Andrew Aziz — founder and CEO of one of the world’s top trading education platforms — would fit into the typical stereotype of a self-made Middle Eastern entrepreneur. But the closer you look at this production, the more it becomes clear that the stereotypes we cling to are nothing but outdated misconceptions.
But what does it mean for strategists and creatives to equally learn from each other?
“Think of it this way — strategy is the GPS, and creativity is the fuel. They are two completely different things. Strategy will take you where you want to go, but it won’t motivate you. Creativity will. It’s beyond colors and design; creativity is tapping into different mediums of joy, different mediums that inspire you — that fuel your commitment to boring and repetitive strategies,” Fares explains.
This tension — between precision and chaos, structure and instinct — is at the heart of TEDx Bear Bull Traders. It’s not just about merging two opposing worlds; it’s about proving that business and art are not separate forces — they’re two sides of the same coin.
Photo by Beate Schonborn (IG: @beateschonborn)
Andrew Aziz – Canadian trader, investor and high-altitude mountaineer
Photo by Joe Salmon (IG: @ joe__salmon)
Ahmed Elfares
At a glance, the TEDx BBT lineup captures a broad range of mediums — business speakers, performance artists, visual artists, and much more. But once we began exploring the content, we finally came to understand the deeper concept.
While most of the speakers are renowned figures in trading, business, and finance, not a single talk focuses directly on business. Instead, each speaker has extracted their favored strategy and tailored it to address everyday life. There’s Timothy Sykes, the controversial trading tycoon, who explores how to thrive under pressure. Darren Dahl, the Dean of UBC Sauder School of Business, discusses how curiosity fuels success. Locksley Baylock, a community mom trader, shares her empowering relationship with resilience.
Unlike most TEDx conferences, here the traders are only one half of the equation.
“My vision with the creative side of TEDx BBT was to give artists creative freedom to explore their mediums,” Fares explains. “I don’t want them to just make something pretty — I want them to tell us who they are without using any words. To show that as humans, we are capable of exploring each other’s minds without saying a single word.”
The creative lineup reflects this philosophy. The list includes Subscura, an international inter-arts performance group known for blending aerial dance, theater, and immersive visuals into transformative experiences. There’s Hatim Hanafi, a Sudanese-Canadian singer whose work fuses East African and Western sounds. Dave Gu, a breathwork expert, will lead a full sensory experience combining sound, movement, and emotional release. Even John Bello, a professional photographer, will host an installation where guests can participate in a one-minute modeling session — an exploration of identity and vulnerability through the lens of art.
But this isn’t just about creating a dynamic lineup — it’s about rewriting the rules of what a business conference can be.
“We wanted to challenge the assumption that business events have to be sterile and corporate,” Andrew explains.
“Business and art have always been presented as separate worlds — but the truth is, creativity is a driving force behind success in every industry. Strategy without creativity is lifeless. And creativity without strategy is directionless.”
Photo by Beate Schonborn (IG: @beateschonborn)
That idea — blending two traditionally separate worlds — is reflected not only in the content but in the dynamic between Andrew and Fares themselves. The two couldn’t be more different. Andrew is analytical, structured, and disciplined. Fares is emotive, expressive, and thrives in chaos. And yet, their creative partnership works — because each one brings what the other lacks.
“Andrew has taught me how to think about my art like a business,” Fares says. “It’s not just about expression — it’s about creating value, about how you make people feel, and why they come back.”
“And Fares has made me rethink how I approach strategy,” Andrew adds. “Sometimes the most effective plan isn’t the one with the clearest logic — it’s the one that creates an emotional connection.”
This creative and strategic duality shapes not only the conference but the dynamic between the two friends. And that connection is palpable in the flow of the event itself.
Take, for example, Fares’ performance following his talk — the first TED talk ever to transition directly into a holographic art piece. The lights dim, a haunting electronic melody begins to build, and Fares steps into the spotlight. What follows is a visually surreal, emotionally charged performance blending burlesque, holograms, and abstract movement. It’s confrontational, seductive, and vulnerable all at once — a direct challenge to the way we experience performance and identity.
“I told Andrew, ‘Let me push this boundary — let me see how far we can go.’ And he let me. He didn’t try to control the process — he trusted me. That’s why it works.”
It’s a balance of trust and creative freedom — the same principles that drive success in both business and art.
The tension between Andrew and Fares’ worlds — strategy and creativity, logic and chaos — isn’t just what makes TEDx Bear Bull Traders unique. It’s what makes it revolutionary.
Photo by Joe Salmon (IG: @ joe__salmon)
Photo by Raof Gomaa (IG: @centaur.productions)
“We’re creating a new model here,” Andrew says. “The business world is finally realizing that creativity isn’t optional — it’s essential. And the art world is recognizing that strategy doesn’t kill creativity — it gives it a framework to thrive.”
TEDx Bear Bull Traders isn’t just about trading strategies or artistic expression — it’s about rewriting the rules. Bear Bull Traders is proving that business doesn’t have to be cold, and art doesn’t have to be directionless. In a world that tells you to pick one side — logic or creativity, strategy or emotion — they’re showing us that the real future lies in blending both.
