From Zero Experience to 25-Year “Overnight Success”
When Rachel Ott began studying graphic design in Toronto at 18, she had no idea she’d one day run her own creative studio for over two decades. Winning the George Brown Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship became a deeply meaningful milestone, recognition for years of hard work, including putting herself through school.
Patrick’s path began in the fast-paced world of journalism, reporting for CTV, City, and Global. The chaos of newsrooms, listening to police scanners, chasing breaking stories shaped his ability to work under pressure, a skill he’d later transfer to the world of PR.
They launched their companies around the same time. Rachel moving from agency work to a freelance model, Patrick walking away from a steady PR job to start something different. It was risky. It was stressful. And it led to one of their first rules as a couple: never discuss money at bedtime.
Design that Serves and PR that Stands Out
Rachel built Varga Girl Design as a bespoke, client-first graphic design studio, offering agency-level creativity at a more accessible price point. She has a particular passion for helping smaller companies with rebrands and new branding, and she finds deep satisfaction in her work with non-profits.
Patrick founded Pointman! News Creation to address what he saw as a flaw in traditional PR: relying too much on generic press releases. Instead, his “Trojan Horse” approach focuses on crafting clever, newsworthy hooks that slip into the media conversation, often through humor.
One standout example: the Post-Pandemic Primer campaign
Inspired by a friend’s joke about “hard pants” and relearning social etiquette after COVID, Patrick created witty instructions on post-pandemic life, while Rachel designed it to look like an airplane safety card. The campaign went viral, won an international award, and became proof that creativity and humor are powerful PR tools.
Navigating the AI Era
The conversation also touched on the ways technology is reshaping PR and design.
For Patrick, AI is a net positive for his earned media business. Search engines now value coverage from local outlets as much as from major national publications, making broad outreach more important than ever.
Rachel sees AI and tools like Canva as helpful in certain situations, but not a substitute for professional insight. She often provides clients with detailed branding guidelines so they can use such tools effectively.
Keeping the Partnership Strong
Twenty-five years of business and marriage require boundaries. The couple credits their longevity to:
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Respecting each other’s domains: Patrick leads PR, Rachel leads design.
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Having separate workspaces (even if they’re just different ends of the condo).
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Practicing honest communication, backed by admiration and respect.
They’re also big believers in taking breaks. Rachel finds her reset in drumming, while Patrick treasures daily trips to the dog park with their “high-maintenance puppy,” affectionately nicknamed the destroyer of worlds.
Sales: The Changemaker’s Secret Weapon
Both Patrick and Rachel agree: “Everything is sales.” Whether you’re pitching media, presenting to a client, or networking, your ability to sell your ideas determines your success.
Their skills were sharpened in early retail jobs and refined through involvement in networking organizations like BNI. For them, genuine human connection is the most powerful tool in a digital-first world.
Patrick and Rachel’s story is a blueprint for building something that lasts, rooted in courage, adaptability, and the belief that bold ideas deserve bold execution. For changemakers everywhere, it’s proof that you can thrive in business and life when you lead with both passion and purpose.
