One of the most exciting developments I've spotted so far in 2025 has to be the launch of the Department of Creative Affairs (DCA).

So, I was delighted that DCA's founder, Amar Chohan, was able to join me for a chat here on Small Spark Theory.

In this episode, Amar shares his career journey—from aspiring lawyer to media sales—before spending 11 years at Contagious, championing creative excellence.

Now at the helm of DCA, Amar is on a mission to shine a light on independent agencies, helping them form stronger partnerships and gain the recognition they deserve. We talk about the frustrations with the traditional intermediary model and explore how DCA is taking a fresh, transparent, and content-led approach—giving independent agencies a louder voice and a fairer shot at attracting marketing spend.

Amar's recommended read is The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz—listen in to find out how to win a copy.

Get in touch with Amar here if you'd like to learn more about how DCA can support your agency.

Also mentioned in the episode:

Pay-to-Play Pitch Schemes Are Putting Agency/Client Relationships at Risk
One Small Spark – Gunpowder’s monthly challenge email.

EP97: Why independent agencies matter | Amar Chohan | DCA