July222025
Ep10 Empowered Together show: Andrea Walton, founder of the Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation based in Alexandria, VA & Cape Town, South Africa
Hello friends! Welcome to this week’s episode of the Empowered Together podcast and video show on InkandescentWomen.com — as well as InkandescentRadio.com and Inkandescent.tv
Today, we are thrilled to talk with one of our new members: Andrea Walton, MBA — the founder & CEO of the Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation based in Alexandria, VA, at Howard University, and in Cape Town, South Africa
I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder of Inkandescent®.
Before we jump into our Q&A, here’s a little about this truly amazing woman.
Andrea Walton is a seasoned HR executive, published author, and purpose-driven philanthropist committed to building pathways to education for Black and Brown girls around the world. As Founder and CEO of The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation, Andrea leads with a deeply personal mission-having once been a teen mom who earned her GED before climbing the ranks to become a Chief People Officer in the biotech and education sectors.
Since 2020 Andrea has awarded nearly a dozen scholarships under the banner “From GED to MBA,” and recently formalized the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. With global partnerships spanning the University of Cape Town and Howard University the foundation is scaling a bold vision: to eliminate systemic barriers to higher education-one student one scholarship and one opportunity at a time. Andrea also leads Concrete Strategies LLC her HR consulting firm and hosts the podcast The Table I Built where she shares unfiltered conversations on leadership resilience and equity.”My work is rooted in the belief that education saves lives. It is true for me, and it is my life’s mission to help others write their own stories. Where we came from creates a foundation. What we do next is up to us.”
Be sure to listen to and watch our interview where we talk with Andrea about:
Your story is incredibly inspiring—from teen mom to corporate executive to founder. What personal turning point led you to believe that your past didn’t define your future?- You’ve written two powerful books, From GED to MBA and All the Smoke. What inspired you to share your journey so openly, and what impact have those stories had on others?
- The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation began as the Andrea Walton Scholarship in 2020 and has now grown into something global. What does it mean to you to see it evolve in this way, especially with the new South Africa partnership?
- You also launched a podcast, The Table I Built, to amplify underdog voices. What do you hope listeners take away from your episodes—and why was now the right time to start it?
- You wear many hats—author, executive, founder, mother. What keeps you grounded and motivated as you pour into others through your work and philanthropy?
Listen to Andrea’s Podcast, The Table I Built: A bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience purpose and leadership in Season 1 of Andrea’s show you’ll find episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. “Each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways,” says the woman who went from teen mom to executive. “I am happy to share hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.” In Season 2 Andrea will interview leaders who have also gone from pain to purpose and want to share their hard-earned wisdom. Click here to listen.
Check out Andrea’s books:
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who became a teen mom, the odds were stacked against Andrea. “Through my faith, family, and resilience, I fought through,” she explains, and hopes her story motivates readers when the odds are stacked against them. “Today, choose to look doubt square in the eyes and say, I will not quit!” Click here to buy the book.
All the Smoke: From Pain to Purpose Author Andrea Walton has shared her life and educational journey in From GED to MBA. Now, “All the Smoke” details Divorce, Depression, and ultimately Destiny. The native of Pasadena, CA grew up with a single mom, sister, and brother. Like many teens that become pregnant, she was on welfare and dropped out of high school to raise her daughter. At 19, she took the GED and passed, but it took several years before she was ready to apply to college. The first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, she forged on to complete her MBA two years later. She then spent decades as a human resources expert with positions at Nestle, Target, biotech companies, and more. She now mom to three children, all of whom are thriving in Northern VA.
Contact this truly amazing woman: Email: Andrea.Walton@concrete-strategies.com • Cell: 626-233-1409
To start us off, we hosted our first Zoom Mastermind meeting on Saturday, Nov. 16. These will be held monthly, and each session will be a safe space for reflection, solidarity, and empowerment. The forum will be open to sharing concerns that we plan to channel into meaningful action, personal growth, and positive change for their communities.
