Big Sea Is Now a Certified B Corporation

We’re excited to share a major milestone in our journey as a purpose-driven digital marketing agency: Big Sea is now a Certified B Corporation.

This certification recognizes businesses verified by B Lab, the nonprofit network transforming the global economy to benefit people, communities, and the planet. For us, it represents accountability, transparency, and a commitment to keep improving how we work.

Why B Corp?

The decision to pursue B Corp certification grew from something deeper than a business goal. For partners Andi Graham and Dzuy Nguyen, it came from a shared belief that business can be a tool for justice, transparency, and community.

From the beginning, Big Sea has partnered with organizations that make a difference, like nonprofits, universities, and purpose-driven brands working toward a better world. Our work has always been rooted in purpose. Becoming a Certified B Corporation was the next step in aligning that purpose with accountability.

B Corp certification gives us a clear framework for measuring what matters: how we treat our people, how we support our clients and communities, and how we care for the planet. It allows us to connect the dots between our values and our impact through consistent, verifiable standards.

Inside the agency, this commitment shows up everywhere:

• Core Values guide hiring, client partnerships, and team culture.
• EOS and our Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) integrate social impact into our three-year picture and annual goals, aligning company Rocks with team and individual priorities.
• Ongoing training gives every team member opportunities to learn and contribute. Our quarterly deep dives explore topics like equity in audience targeting, inclusive storytelling, sustainable design, and ethical data practices.
• Measurement and accountability are part of our rhythm. We track social impact on the agency scorecard, review it in quarterly meetings, and assess progress through B Corp recertification and gap analysis.

B Corp certification helps us stay accountable to our values and to the people and communities we serve as we continue to grow.

“Our team has always believed that doing good work and doing good in the world belong together,” said CEO Andi Graham. “Becoming a B Corp gives us a framework to keep living that belief every day.”

The B Corp Certification Process

Becoming a B Corp is no small feat. The process took nearly a year and required us to examine every aspect of our business, from governance and employment practices to environmental impact and community engagement.

We started by completing the B Impact Assessment, a rigorous evaluation tool developed by B Lab, the nonprofit that certifies B Corporations. This assessment challenged us to look closely at how we operate, how we treat our team, how we engage with our community, and how we minimize our environmental footprint.

From there, we formalized and strengthened our internal policies, aligned every department with our mission, and implemented new systems to track and improve our impact. We worked across teams, from operations and HR to client services and creative, to ensure that our values were reflected in every corner of the organization.

What It Took

Here’s a snapshot of what the certification process involved:

• Governance: We evaluated our leadership structure, decision-making processes, and transparency practices to ensure accountability at every level.
• Workers: We assessed our employment practices, benefits, professional development opportunities, and workplace culture to ensure we’re supporting our team holistically.
• Community: We examined how we engage with and support our local and global communities, including pro-bono work, volunteerism, and supplier relationships.
• Environment: We measured our environmental footprint and implemented strategies to reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote sustainability.
• Customers: We reviewed how we serve our clients and ensure that our work creates positive, measurable outcomes for mission-driven organizations.

What It Means To Be a B Corp

Earning B Corp certification is a milestone, but it’s not a finish line. It’s a guidepost for continuous improvement. It challenges us to keep raising the bar, to keep asking hard questions, and to keep aligning our business with our values.

Here’s what this milestone means for Big Sea moving forward:

Purpose and Partnership

We’re continuing to grow partnerships with mission-driven organizations that create meaningful change. Every project we take on is an opportunity to amplify impact and help values-aligned teams reach more people with their stories.

Equity and Inclusion

We’re focused on increasing our work with organizations that serve marginalized and underrepresented communities. Our goal is to make high-quality strategy and storytelling more accessible to the people and causes that need them most.

Community and Pro Bono Work

We’ll keep dedicating time and resources to pro bono projects (like our Wavemakers Grant) and community partnerships that align with our mission. These collaborations remind us why we do what we do and help extend our impact beyond paid client work.

Environmental Responsibility

We’re committed to reducing our footprint through sustainable operations, remote-first work, and environmentally conscious production practices.

Learning and Accountability

We track our social and environmental impact alongside financial metrics on our agency scorecard. Through quarterly reflections, training sessions, and B Corp recertification, we evaluate progress and find new ways to improve

Why B Corp Certification Matters

Earning B Corp certification reinforces what has guided Big Sea from the beginning: a belief that good work and responsible business go hand in hand. The certification gives us structure, consistency, and third-party validation for the way we already aim to operate — with purpose, accountability, and care for the people and communities we serve.

In a time when audiences are skeptical and many organizations overstate their impact, verified standards matter. B Corp certification provides independent confirmation that we meet rigorous benchmarks for governance, worker wellbeing, community contribution, and environmental responsibility. It also gives us a clear process for identifying where we can do better and how to track that progress over time.

For our team, certification connects daily work to something larger. Through our ongoing social impact program — from quarterly learning sessions and teach-ins to agency-wide impact measurement — everyone has a role in how we live our values and improve our practices.

For our clients and partners, it’s a promise that we hold ourselves to the same standards we encourage them to pursue. It reflects our commitment to building trust, designing responsibly, and helping purpose-driven organizations grow their influence in ways that benefit both people and the planet.

“Our impact grows when we’re accountable,” said Partner and COO Dzuy Nguyen. “B Corp certification gives us structure to keep our values visible in every decision and every relationship.”

Being part of the global B Corp community also connects us with businesses that share our priorities — collaboration, shared learning, and measurable impact. Together, we’re showing that profitability and purpose are not competing goals, but parts of the same equation for sustainable growth.

What’s Next for Big Sea?

We’re just getting started.

This milestone has already sparked new ideas, new goals, and new collaborations. We’re exploring innovative ways to serve our clients, deepen our community partnerships, and tell stories that inspire action.

We’re also committed to sharing more about our journey, like what we’re learning, where we’re growing, and how others can join us. Whether you’re a fellow agency, a nonprofit leader, or a values-driven brand, we hope our story encourages you to think differently about what business can be.

Honoring the Trust You’ve Placed in Us

To our clients, collaborators, and community: thank you for believing in this mission. Your trust, partnership, and shared values make this work possible.

To our team: thank you for your passion, your integrity, and your commitment to doing work that matters. This certification is a reflection of your efforts—and a promise to keep building something meaningful together.

We’re excited for what’s ahead. And we’re honored to walk this path with you.