From humble beginnings with just $43 and a bold vision, an Indigenous start-up is now spreading their news on the bustling streets of Manhattan.
'Elephant in the Room Consulting' is a First Nations-led powerhouse founded by proud Bundjalung woman Jenni Walke, whose face will be on a billboard in Times Square for being a finalist in the 22nd annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
Dubbed the Oscars of the corporate world, the Stevie Awards celebrate the best in leadership, innovation, and impact across industries, with female finalists selected from more than 1,500 nominations across 48 countries based on average scores of almost 200 global professionals.
Ms Walke was attending the gala awards banquet on overnight at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York vying to win four categories: Building Sustainable Supply Chains; Best Female Entrepreneur in Asia, Australia or New Zealand; Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion - Advertising, Business Services, Marketing & PR; Women-Run Company for Social Good.
"I was genuinely blown away to receive this honour and to be named alongside so many incredible businesses from around the world. Awards are a beautiful recognition, but for us they not the end goal," she said.
"The real reward is the work itself, seeing lives changed, businesses grow, and communities strengthened."
The Queensland-based, 100 per cent Indigenous-owned EITRC business blends lived experience, Indigenous ways of knowing and commercial acumen to deliver authentic inclusion, cultural intelligence and leadership programs for government, corporates and NGOs across Australia and internationally.
Ms Walke's business assists corporates to embed First Nations knowledge systems into governance, leadership and strategy, while it also exported Indigenous-led frameworks and inclusion programs to global markets including the United States, Canada, Singapore and South Korea, including the Empire Builders leadership program, which will launching in the US next year after a successful pilot in Sedona, via partnerships with the Ignite Movement and Native American Business Association in Canada.
Ms Walke said her team were also navigating the complexities of international trade, from multi-currency compliance and payment systems to the legal frameworks that support secure global operations.
"Exporting isn't just about taking services offshore - it's about sharing values, vision and voice," she said.
"If your story can create change, it's export-worthy. Lead with purpose and the world will listen."
The four-time finalist said she was proud of what her consultancy had created and thankful for the clients, partners, and communities that help support change.
"This journey has never been mine alone - it's been shared, supported, and shaped by so many," she said.
Ms Walke and Elephant in the Room Consulting were also recently named a Queensland finalist in the Telstra Business Awards for Indigenous Excellence, and in the 2025 ALIBI Awards across three categories: First Nations Business Lady of the Year, Business Lady of the Year, and Professional Services of the Year.
"Winning would affirm that cultural intelligence, ethical leadership and Indigenous excellence are not only valuable - they're globally magnetic and transformative," she said.
"Build authentic relationships and understand the cultural context of your target markets. Exporting is about connection, not just transaction.
"Our goal is to create a global Indigenous business ecosystem grounded in cultural intelligence, ethical impact and systems-level change - redefining success through inclusion, empowerment and the elevation of Indigenous wisdom in global leadership."
Past Stevie Award winners include corporate heavyweights like Apple, Google, DHL, and Procter & Gamble, with EITRC one of just 34 organisations worldwide to earn four or more finalist nods, an honour somewhat unlikely when the business launched with just a handful of money.
"Launching with just $43 and a bold vision taught us that clarity of mission, courageous storytelling and strategic partnerships are essential to building a globally impactful business from the ground up," Ms Walke said.
"Australia's rich Indigenous heritage and our unique approach to reconciliation give us a compelling voice in global conversations about leadership, inclusion and cultural transformation."
