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.

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