The Table I Built

Andrea Walton
  • 5.0 (7)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Table I Built is a bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience, purpose, and leadership — with episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. Hosted by Andrea C. Walton, MBA, each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways. From teen mom to executive, Andrea shares hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.

  1. 5D AGO

    Leading While Healing: A Conversation with Lovern J. Gordon

    In this episode of The Table I Built, I’m joined by Lovern J. Gordon, founder of Love Life Now Foundation, for a powerful conversation about leadership, healing, and what it means to keep showing up — even when life is hard. Lovern’s work centers on supporting women during and after trauma, offering both compassion and practical guidance. From helping women navigate moments of crisis to securing safe shelter and housing, her leadership is rooted in dignity, choice, and real-world support. In our conversation, we explore: • What healing looks like in practice, not theory • How lived experience shapes leadership • The work women do while navigating unseen challenges • What it takes to move forward with clarity and self-trust • How legacy is built through service and humanity This episode creates space for honest reflection and reminds us that resilience is not abstract — it’s lived. If you or someone you know is navigating domestic violence or unsafe situations, support is available. In the U.S., you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org. Pull up a chair — your seat at the table is waiting.

    27 min

  2. JAN 26

    Empathy Is Not Optional: Leadership in Uncertain Times

    The world feels heavy right now—and our workplaces don’t exist outside of that reality. In this episode of The Table I Built, Andrea Walton explores what it means to lead with empathy during moments of uncertainty, unrest, and global tension—without being political, performative, or losing sight of results. What employees carry into work impacts how they show up. Leaders who ignore that reality don’t just risk missing goals—they risk losing trust and people. In this conversation, Andrea shares three practical ways leaders can support their teams through uncertain times: • Acknowledging the tension instead of pretending it doesn’t exist • Aligning leadership, managers, HR, and communications around a shared tone • Normalizing flexibility without lowering expectations This episode is for leaders who want to deliver results and lead with humanity—because empathy isn’t optional, and legacy is built one decision at a time.

    6 min

  3. JAN 12

    What We Don’t Talk About in January: Endings, Loss, and Necessary Goodbyes

    January is usually about beginnings — new goals, new energy, new vision. But what about endings? In Episode 2 of Season Three of The Table I Built, Andrea Walton explores why learning to steward endings, losses, and transitions is essential to growth. Drawing from Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud and the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, this episode reframes “negative” moments as necessary — and sometimes healing. As we look toward 2026, this conversation offers a grounded, hopeful framework for navigating change, preparing for transitions, and letting go of what no longer fits — without fear, and without denial. Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting.

    8 min

  4. JAN 5

    Season 3: Purpose, Power, and Global Impact: Karen Hanrahan at the Table

    Welcome to Season Three of 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. In this episode, Karen and I talk about: • The leadership lesson that has guided her across every chapter of her career • How she stays hopeful in challenging global moments • Why women in leadership must embrace vulnerability, humanity, and truth • What she’s learned from communities who rebuild after conflict and crisis • What resilience really looks like in practice This conversation sets the tone for a season dedicated to women leading with power, purpose, and heart. Pull up a chair — your seat at the table is waiting.

    16 min

  5. 11/18/2025

    When the Ground Shifts: Navigating Layoffs, Transition & Career Stability (with Shana Washington)

    Season Two Finale — The Table I Built 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. Shana brings her rich leadership experience from organizations such as Moderna, Sarepta Therapeutics, and AbbVie, where she’s led global marketing strategies, launched major initiatives across international markets, championed diversity in healthcare, and co-chaired a leading women’s ERG. She holds degrees from Columbia University and Ohio University, along with executive certificates from Northwestern and NYU. Together, Andrea and Shana explore: • How to fortify yourself if you’re still employed in an unstable market • What to do in the first days and weeks after a layoff • How to rebuild your narrative and confidence • Strategies to stand out in a crowded, employer-driven job market • Ways to monetize your skills while you search • A 30-day roadmap for resetting, reconnecting, and moving forward with intention Whether you’re navigating a transition or simply preparing wisely, this episode offers the wisdom, grounding, and strategy you need for the journey ahead.

    16 min

  6. 11/17/2025

    A Special Bonus Episode: A Conversation with My Mother: Resilience, Healing & Grace

    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. We talk about courage. We talk about faith. We talk about slowing down, listening to your body, and allowing yourself to receive support instead of always giving it. And we talk about the kind of inner strength that only surfaces when life insists you go inward. If you’re a woman holding everything together, or a woman learning to release, this conversation is for you. And if you’re looking for tools to support your own healing journey, my mom recently released a guided journal designed to help women reflect, process, and restore themselves through writing. You can find her journal on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/7n9DmoB Resilience is strategy. Purpose is power. And legacy is built one decision at a time. Thank you for joining me — and for honoring this moment with us.

    8 min

  7. 11/10/2025

    The Space Between Seasons: A Moment to Reflect

    Before the rush of the holidays and the close of another year, Andrea pauses to reflect on a season that’s tested and strengthened so many of us. In this heartfelt episode, she invites you to slow down, breathe, and take inventory of how you’ve shown up for yourself this year — even through loss, delay, or uncertainty. Because even if every prayer wasn’t answered, your presence here means you’re still becoming.

    7 min

  8. 11/03/2025

    When Purpose Finds You Tired (The Weight of Everything)

    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. 🎙️ A short, honest reminder that even when you’re tired, grace still finds you.

    6 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Table I Built is a bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience, purpose, and leadership — with episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. Hosted by Andrea C. Walton, MBA, each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways. From teen mom to executive, Andrea shares hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrea Walton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andrea Walton
  • Show Website
    The Table I Built