EP91 - Cairns Oneil Executive Chair - David Cairns

You might know David Cairns as the co-founder of Cairns Oneil, but the agency he started with Sherry O’Neil back in 2012 is just one of the many companies he’s had a hand in founding. In fact, some of those agencies became the entry points for international holding companies looking to enter the Canadian market.For example, David’s first agency—David Cairns & Company, was acquired by Aegis and rebranded Carat. But if you look back at David’s passions and education, you would have thought a role in the creative world was forthcoming.A life-long artist with degrees in visual arts and education, David worked for two years as an art teacher in rural Prince Edward Island.David returned to Toronto and took a job as a Media Estimator with Ogilvy & Mather, and it was from there that his media career took off.David Cairns stops by to chat about growing up in Toronto, his passion for painting, working the late shift as a taxi driver, his career in media, and why every entrepreneur should have an exit strategy. **Subscribe to the Media People Newsletter**mediapeople.beehiiv.com/subscribe**Listen & Subscribe**www.mediapeople.cawww.youtube.com/@mediapeoplepodcastwww.instagram.com/vicgenova/