The Table I Built

January 12, 2026, A Note from Andrea Walton, Host, The Table I Built — This season, we’re elevating the powerful voices of women who lead with purpose, compassion, and conviction — women reshaping the world through their decisions, their courage, and their impact.

To open this season, I’m joined by Karen Hanrahan, a global leader whose career spans more than 25 years across humanitarian action, child protection, and international development. As the Chief Impact and Innovation Officer at ChildFund International — and through her previous roles with the U.S. Department of State and the GLIDE Foundation — Karen has spent her life advocating for vulnerable communities and helping rebuild lives in some of the most complex environments in the world: KarenHanrahan.com. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Nov. 17, 2025 — In this powerful season finale, Andrea sits down with commercial pharmaceutical leader Shana Washington, a seasoned executive with more than 15 years of experience driving global strategy across the biotech and life sciences industry.

With nearly 1.1 million layoffs across the U.S. this year and close to 15,000 job cuts in pharma, this conversation is timely, honest, and deeply necessary. Andrea and Shana expand on their impactful dialogue from Young Black Pharma, offering clarity, preparation strategies, and real guidance for anyone navigating today's volatile job market. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Nov. 10, 2025 — In this special bonus episode of The Table I Built, I sit down for a deeply personal and long-awaited conversation with my mother, Urith Lynn Walker — poet, artist, singer, believer, and the woman whose strength has shaped so much of my own.

This year, my mom faced breast cancer for the first time in her life. But this episode isn't about the disease - it's about resilience, healing, and grace. It's about what she learned about herself, how she stayed grounded, and the wisdom she now carries for every woman navigating her own season of uncertainty or transition. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Nov. 3, 2025 — In this heartfelt solo episode, Andrea opens up about what it means to carry purpose through a season of exhaustion. Between her mother’s recent cancer surgery, her daughter’s recovery, and the ongoing weight of leadership and motherhood, she reflects on the quiet strength it takes to keep standing when life feels heavy.

Because sometimes the miracle isn’t that you keep going — it’s that you’re still standing.

🎙️ This is a short, honest reminder that even when you’re tired, grace still finds you. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Oct. 13, 2025 — In this solo episode of The Table I Built, Andrea Walton explores what it truly means to step out of the shadows and into your full power.

For everyone who has ever felt unseen, overlooked, or uncertain about how to show up authentically in their career or calling, this episode is a reminder that visibility isn’t vanity — it’s responsibility.

Andrea shares reflections on fear, self-advocacy, and authenticity, along with three ways to become visible in your own life: telling the truth about who you are, advocating for yourself out loud, and building community around your voice. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Oct. 27, 2025 — As we close out Disability Awareness Month, I’m joined by a very special guest — my daughter, Naomi Nicole, creator of One Strong Hand. Born with a radial club hand and raised by a teenage mother, Naomi’s story is one of faith, strength, and redefining what’s possible. Together, we talk about what it means to be underestimated, how to turn obstacles into opportunities, and why our limitations never define our legacy. Because being underestimated isn’t a setback — it’s an invitation to rise. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Oct. 20, 2025 — In this solo episode, Andrea gets real about the unseen cost of success — what happens when you build at the expense of your peace. Through honest reflection and practical wisdom, she unpacks how to create boundaries, release what no longer serves you, and build from a place of clarity instead of chaos. Because peace isn’t a reward you earn at the finish line — it’s the foundation that helps you finish well. read more...

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A Note from Host Andrea Walton, Oct. 6, 2025 — In this week’s episode, I sit down with Bonmi Mitchell, a Human Resources leader whose story embodies resilience, growth, and grace.

About this episode: From becoming a mother as a teenager to raising three children while climbing the corporate ladder — and later navigating the loss of her husband — Bonmi’s journey reminds us that our strength is often forged in silence long before it’s celebrated in public. This conversation is about rising again, reclaiming your power, and leading with purpose — no matter what season you’re in. read more...

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Note from Host Andrea Walton, Sept. 30, 2025 — Don't wait for a seat at the table, own the one you bring.

About this episode: I break down the politics of power: political agility, organizational dynamics, and personal agency. With stories from my own leadership journey, including the "say the last 10%"= principle, I share three ways to claim your voice and your own seat.

About Host Andrea Walton, founder, The Concrete Rose Scholarship Foundation

Andrea Walton, host, The Table I Built read more...

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