Balancing leadership, motherhood, and startup life takes more than time management—it takes clarity of purpose and the courage to lead differently.

In this episode, Amanda DeLuca, Founder & CEO of Riley, shares how clarity, empathy, and lived experience have shaped her journey from leadership roles at Google, Eventbrite, NerdWallet, and Etsy to launching a parenting platform that meets families where they are.

You’ll hear how Amanda transformed the challenges of early motherhood into a mission-driven business, built a culture of trust in high-growth environments, and learned to protect her priorities without losing momentum.

Tune in to discover how to turn personal insight into innovation, lead with empathy and accountability, and navigate life’s most demanding seasons with purpose.

Visit our website where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with our special guest.

The key moments in this episode are:

[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[00:27] Empowering Failure and Innovation
[01:17] Meet Amanda DeLuca: Career Journey
[05:00] The Birth of Riley: Solving Parenting Challenges
[13:23] Decision Making: Hats, Haircuts, and Face Tattoos
[18:11] Leadership and Personal Growth
[22:41] Balancing Public and Private Life
[27:21] Balancing Work and Family Life
[24:42] Leadership Lessons from Mentors
[30:54] Handling Criticism and Emotional Reactions
[33:14] Daily Rituals and Family Time
[34:09] Empowerment Through Parenthood
[37:53] Advice to My Younger Self
[44:18] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts

Leadership growth doesn’t happen by accident—it happens when you shift from doing the work to empowering others, building trust, and leading with heart.

In this episode, Emily Portney shares lessons from her 30-year career in financial services—from starting as a rotational analyst at J.P. Morgan to becoming CFO of Barclays International, CFO of BNY Mellon, and now Global Head of Asset Servicing at BNY. Emily opens up about how she learned to delegate, lead through uncertainty, and create safe spaces for bold conversations. She shares why curiosity is her leadership superpower, how building trusted teams fuels growth, and why giving yourself grace is just as important as driving results.

Tune in to discover how to lead with influence, build resilience in the face of change, and become the kind of leader people trust and follow.

Visit our website where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with our special guest.

The key moments in this episode are:

[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[00:27] Building Effective Teams
[01:17] Introducing Emily Portney
[02:14] Emily's Career Journey
[03:40] Leadership Lessons and Styles
[09:39] Navigating Change and Adaptability
[15:20] Personal Branding and Authenticity
[18:18] Building Confidence and Resilience
[24:32] Navigating Unaskable Questions
[26:02] Making Difficult Decisions
[27:37] Managing a Dynamic Schedule
[32:55] Building Strong Relationships
[35:36] Mentorship and Sponsorship
[39:03] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts

What if the parts of yourself you’ve been told to hide are actually your greatest leadership advantages?

In this episode, Becca Chambers—Chief Marketing Officer at Scale Venture Partners—shares how embracing neurodiversity and authenticity has shaped her journey from tech leader to one of LinkedIn’s most influential voices. With ADHD as her superpower, Becca has built award-winning brands, advised fast-growing startups, and reached millions by showing up fully as herself.

You’ll discover why working with your brain, not against it, is essential for growth, how authenticity builds trust, and why telling your story is your best strategy for advancing your career on your terms.

Tune in to explore how unmasking who you are can help you build a bold, meaningful career while leading with courage and impact.

Visit our website where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with our special guest.

The key moments in this episode are:

[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[00:27] Understanding Neurodiversity
[01:07] Meet Becca Chambers
[02:22] The Oxford Comma Debate
[04:30] Becca's Career Journey
[08:41] Embracing Authenticity
[10:54] Building a Personal Brand
[19:40] Leadership and Resilience
[22:51] Building Confidence and Resilience
[24:06] Balancing Perfectionism and Decision Making
[25:53] Advocating for Neurodiversity
[37:38] The Importance of Networking
[41:44] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts