The LOTE Agency is proud to join the B Corp community, meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Becoming B Corp certified isn’t just a badge, it’s a commitment to ongoing improvement, and for LOTE, it marks an important evolution in who we are and how we operate as a social enterprise.
For nearly three decades, LOTE has continually adapted to better serve multicultural Australians. Our work has long been grounded in equity, access, and improving outcomes for CALD communities.
This certification formalises our commitment to impact, strengthens our accountability to the communities we serve, and sharpens our focus on environmental responsibility.
To reflect on this milestone, our Marketing Coordinator, Zoe Askitis, sat down with Owners, Adrienne Meakin and David Bartlett, to unpack LOTE’s B Corp journey.
Here’s what they shared:
Q: Why did LOTE choose the B Corp journey?
Dave: “Our journey began back in 2019, when I first became aware of B Corp. As I explored the framework, it immediately aligned with LOTE’s purpose and values. Seeing other respected, and purpose-led organisations pursue this certification, reinforced that this was both achievable and meaningful. For LOTE, B Corp reflects who we are today and the impact we want to create into the future.”
Q: How long did the process take?
Dave: “It became a five-year journey that required reflection, honesty, and patience. B Corp simply asked us to articulate and formalise what had already been part of our culture for decades. It felt like a natural progression for our business, reflecting on our ongoing commitment to continuous learning, improving, and delivering better outcomes for communities.”
Q: Why did LOTE choose this moment to formalise its impact through B Corp certification?
Adrienne: “After nearly 30 years in operation, LOTE is still evolving. B Corp felt like the right next step in that evolution, and a recommitment to continuous improvement and purpose-led leadership. As we shift beyond translation towards a more human-centred focus, this certification formalises what we’ve long stood for: a human-first, equity-led approach and a deep commitment to CALD communities. The difference now is that these principles are embedded as organisation-wide expectations, standards we can confidently share with clients and communities.”
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of the certification process?
Adrienne: “Definitely the depth of the process. It requires significant time spent reviewing policies, gathering evidence, and answering complex questions. It’s rigorous, but intentionally so. It challenges you to be better, and we felt supported throughout the entire journey.”
Q: What are the most meaningful wins of the B Corp journey?
Dave: “Beyond the certification itself, the real value has been in the process. It’s led to richer client conversations, strengthened internal culture, enhanced our credibility, and created a genuine sense of pride across the business.”
Q: What advice would you give to leaders who want to pursue impact-driven business models?
Dave: “If your organisation is purpose-driven, and you want your work to leave a positive mark, this journey is incredibly worthwhile and rewarding. It provides a clear framework to turn intent into action and accountability.”
Q: How does LOTE’s B Corp status influence clients, partners and competitors?
Adrienne: “B Corp has become a benchmark for the kind of clients we want to work with. It attracts organisations that genuinely care about impact, and it helps us clearly demonstrate that our human-first, equity-led approach is embedded in how we operate. Most importantly, it holds us accountable, it pushes us to continually examine how we work, how we measure impact, and how we bring our values to life.”
Q: If you had to capture the meaning of this journey in one concept, what would it be?
Dave: “What started as curiosity has evolved into a strong sense of pride and clarity about why we exist. B Corp represents who we are today, and the future we’re building towards. We’re proud to see how far LOTE has come, and even more excited about what’s ahead.”
Q: Looking ahead, what impact do you hope this journey will have on LOTE over the next few years?
Adrienne: “B Corp keeps us focused on the goals we’ve set, while helping us attract clients who care deeply about people, purpose, and outcomes. Ultimately, this journey will enable us to create greater impact in a way that’s measurable and transparent, while ensuring our values continue to guide our decisions as we continue to evolve.”
