Meet Our Jury Presidents
Shannon Jones
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Dooley Tombras
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Yadira Harrison
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Greg Hahn
Visit Mischief →
The Agency and People Award for the Rest of Us
In an industry often dominated by holding companies and massive networks, we're creating a special place to recognize the true heart of creative innovation – the people and agencies who proudly wear their independence as a badge of honor. These are the weirdos, misfits, and underdogs who approach business, creativity, and culture from refreshingly different perspectives.
Independence isn't just about ownership structure – it's about the freedom to be authentically weird. To build an agency culture that reflects actual human personalities instead of corporate mandates. To take on the clients and causes you give a damn about. This is our love letter to the passionate shops that chose their own path, and to everyone who's ever been told their agency is "too small," "too niche," "too outspoken," or "too different" to succeed – and went ahead and succeeded anyway.
It's one of the easiest entry processes in creativity, and unlike other shows, there are no categories. You may have already done a ton of work on awards entries, so we're making this easy. In most cases, it's copy, paste, done.
Important: Please note that this is one, unified list that includes both agencies and people. There are not two separate Top 40 lists. Now, if things get sassy with numbers of entries, we may make the call to create two lists—one for agencies and one for people. So there.
And We're Opening an Indie Hall of Fame!
We're taking our celebration of independence to the next level with the introduction of the Indie Agency News Hall of Fame—the ultimate recognition for those who've shaped what it means to be proudly independent in our industry.
While our annual Top 40 spotlights the current standouts, the Hall of Fame honors the all-time legends—up to five pioneers whose careers have defined the indie spirit and created the blueprint for everyone who followed.
These aren't just successful independents; they're the original weirdos, misfits, and underdogs who broke the mold so completely that they forever changed what's possible. The ones who didn't just survive against the odds—they rewrote the rules of the game.
Ideal Hall of Fame nominees demonstrate:
- A career-spanning commitment to independence and authentic differentiation
- Groundbreaking approaches that influenced how indie agencies operate
- A history of challenging industry conventions and creating new possibilities
- Meaningful contributions to the wider independent agency community
- A legacy that continues to inspire the next generation of indies
The inaugural Hall of Fame class will be announced during a special livestream event on Monday, October 6th, following the Top 40 reveals.
How to nominate for the Hall of Fame: It's simple! When submitting your Top 40 entry through the Iceberg form, you'll see a checkbox option labeled "Consider this person for the 2025 Indie Agency News Hall of Fame Class." Check this box to have your nominee evaluated for both the Top 40 and our inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Ready to honor the legends who paved the indie way? Submit your nominations through the Top 40 entry process below.
Why enter the Indie Agency News Top 40?
Global Recognition: Join the only worldwide program celebrating agencies and people who make independence a superpower
Increased Visibility: We actively promote winners to brands and CMOs seeking true creative partners
Everyone Wins: All entries receive either Top 40 placement or Award of Merit, plus custom assets
No Categories: We celebrate what makes you different, not how well you fit traditional boxes
Join the Community: Connect with like-minded independents who've chosen the path less traveled
Optional Feedback: Get insights to help position your agency's unique strengths for future opportunities
Who Is Eligible?
Great question. There aren't specific categories, but here's a steer:
Agencies
- Independent shops of any size – from one-person studios to 500+ teams
- Not owned by holding companies or networks (that's kind of the point)
- Any agency type – creative, media, performance, PR, digital, strategy, production, you name it
- Both established indies and newly independent ventures
- Located anywhere in the world – indie spirit knows no borders
People + Teams
- Anyone who contributes to an independent agency's unique culture
- All roles and levels – from interns to executives, across all disciplines
- Innovators who've shaped how independent agencies work
- Rising talent who represent the future of independence
- Teams that embody the collaborative spirit of indie agencies
- Industry veterans who chose independence over corporate life
Not sure if you qualify? Hit us up here to help.
Only Three to Six Fields to Fill Out
This section gives you an idea of what to expect for your entry. You can find the entry kit here.
Entry Type
• Select one: Agency / People + Teams
• Which best describes your entry: Weirdo? Misfit? Underdog? (Select one or tell us your own descriptor)
Basic Info
- • Agency Name
- • Year Founded
- • Location(s)
- • Agency Type/Specialty
- • Size (number of employees)
Three Key Questions
- 1. The Rule Breakers: What industry norms does your agency deliberately break? What makes you proudly "not like the others"?
- 2. The Culture Code: What unique process, philosophy, or vibe could only exist because you're independent?
- 3. The Proof: Show us what independence has allowed you to accomplish that wouldn't be possible elsewhere.
+ Optional Context Questions
- The Origin Story: What sparked your agency's creation?
- The Fight Club: What's been your biggest challenge as an independent?
- The Future Vision: How do you see independence evolving?
Supporting Materials
Submit photos, videos, links, or any other format that helps tell your story (maximum 5 files). This includes case study films, video, audio, PDFs, URLs ... anything that helps the jury get the vibe. Recommendation videos welcome (3 min max).
Entry Deadlines & Pricing
Final Deadline
Friday, September 12
$199 per entry
Indie Agency News members save 25% on all entries. Contact us for your code
What Happens After You Enter
Judging Period
Live Countdown Reveals
Hall of Fame Announced
Live Countdown Schedule: Sept 29 (Places 40-31) • Sept 30 (Places 30-21) • Oct 1 (Places 20-11) • Oct 2 (Places 10-4) • Oct 3 (Top 3 Winners)
Want to Judge?
Help us celebrate the best of indie. Join our jury of independent agency leaders.
Or apply directly at this link
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