Meet Anna Mulock Houwer, a Lisbon-based powerhouse who embodies the perfect blend of commercial acumen and passionate advocacy. With a trailblazing career spanning global giants like PepsiCo, Novartis, and her own consultancies, Anna has made her mark as a board director, advisor, and mentor. Known as the "Rocket Booster" by senior leaders for her ability to strategize and drive action, she has been instrumental in shaping the trajectories of industry titans like AstraZeneca, Medtronic, and Takeda.
But Anna’s impact extends far beyond boardrooms and global markets. A champion for women’s progress and leadership, she is channeling her expertise into causes that matter most—like advancing innovation in women’s health and breaking barriers for female leaders.
1. Navigating Life as a Global Business Leader: What challenges have you faced as a female
entrepreneur and board director working internationally, and how have you overcome
them?
Do you have three hours and a flipchart? Hahaha.
I’ve noticed that as a female leader, challenges don’t fade as you progress. On the contrary.
Greater visibility and growing impact mean stepping on more toes, and the expectations
multiply. Be assertive but not aggressive, results-driven but not a ‘bulldozer,’ polished but
not snobbish—and don’t forget to look good, but not too good! Seriously, it’s impossible to
tick all the boxes for all the people. Trying will just wear you down and create cognitive
dissonance. So be you, as authentically as you possiblly can, though I admit, it’s an ongoing dance. Be
confident that you will fit at the right table. Stay grounded in own values. Values are your
compass. What helps me navigate challenges and cultivate the right mindset are professional clubs
and networks such as European Women on Boards (EWOB). You meet accomplished senior
women who face similar challenges and get stronger together.
2. From Multinationals to Boutique Consultancies: How did you transition from corporate
giants like PepsiCo and Novartis to running your own consultancies and what did it take?
Transitioning from big corporates to my own business felt liberating. Stepping outside the
system allowed me to suddenly see the big picture - I was no longer part of the ‘problem,’
but rather a mirror for organizations. This perspective helped me carve out a strategic niche
for myself in life sciences and healthcare. It was a natural fit - personally, because I am the
daughter of two surgeons and grew up in a hospital environment so professionally, working in
this space is endlessly meaningful to me. Beyond that, running my own consultancy gave me
the freedom to explore adjacent opportunities - something that wouldn’t have been
possible in a corporate setting.
As a small player working with corporate giants, I quickly learned two things: don’t compete
on scale, and focus on strategic, high-value projects. I was fortunate to work with senior
clients at major multinationals, often stepping in after big consultancies left to make things
work. Those opportunties were some of the most satisfying and educational moments of my
journey. I tend to ‘over service’ my clients, which has naturally led to a business built on referrals and
repeat work from satisfied clients. Over time, many of them have become trusted
professional friends. I have worked with some of the biggest names in health.
3. HealthTech Startups & Strategic Growth: What advice would you give female founders in
the health tech space to successfully scale their businesses and attract investment?
While my advice is somewhat gender-neutral, it’s important to acknowledge that female-
only teams will face more headwinds when scaling. It’s a common knowledge that
unfortunately less than 2% of funding goes to female founders. Mixed teams statistically do
better, so it’s worth discussing this option as a team.
Keep the following in mind:
- Treat scaling and fundraising as a marathon, not a sprint
- Build a network, build a movement—and then 10x your efforts
- Keep your pitch sharp and focused on the investment opportunity, not just the
impact (a common pitfall for women)
- Highlight patient- and physician-centric design backed by data-driven insights into
unmet needs
- Make your project bulletproof in terms of your IP, regulatory compliance, and
security
- Expect setbacks—resilience and optimism will be your greatest assets
4. Work-Life Balance as a Global Leader: As a mom and a high-level strategist, how do you
balance your professional achievements with personal life, and what tips would you share
with other women in demanding roles?
I wrote an article called ‘Work. Play. Love’ in the Oct-Nov issue of Lifestyle Portugal; check it
out! My view is that work-life balance isn’t a realistic goal. We only have one life, and it
must be lived fully and unapologetically - no waiting for the weekend or retirement.
Since 2014, I’ve been doing a nerdy annual exercise I call ‘life planning in PowerPoint.’ I
borrowed the strategy frameworks I use with clients and applied them to my life.
My annual roadmap has five buckets:
1) work & inspiration
2) health & wellness
3) friends & family
4)l ove & intimacy
5) world citizen lifestyle.
Everything I do throughout the year is about executing on those priorities. It’s December so I am working on my 2025 life plan as we speak!
5. The Power of Networking: How can female expats, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs
leverage global networks for business growth and career advancement?
It’s incredibly important for women to network, and luckily, we are excellent at it! As one
goes through life this truth of ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ becomes more
and more apparent.
To leverage networking, I propose two things:
a) Add Discipline: Networking needs regularity and consistency. I’m inspired by a board
director I met on LinkedIn who dedicates 8 hours a week to meeting new people online.
Another effective habit is the ‘Rule of 9’ I heard about: spend 9 minutes a day on LinkedIn,
comment on 9 posts in your niche, and send 9 new connection requests. Over time, the
compounding effect is unbelievable. Also: simply post regularly to build a like-minded high
quality network fast.
b) Monetize Your Network: If you already have a strong personal network, think about how
to add value and leverage it for growth. Make introductions for people that lead to business
development, partnerships, or fundraising opportunities (don’t forget to have agreements
in place to facilitate these types of transactions!). And don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations, referrals, or even strategic advice from those in your circle. Your network is an asset. Cultivate it, multiply it and use it wisely.
6. Portugal as a Hub for Female Entrepreneurs: Why did you choose Lisbon as your base,
and what makes it an ideal location for women entrepreneurs and expats?
I am a Portugal fanatic! I often call Portugal my ‘geographic soulmate’ - and in a business
context, the ‘(sleeping) tiger of Europe.’ Moving here was triggered by a series of events too
surreal to explain easily, but it was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
Living in the Lisbon/area offers an incredible quality of life: sunshine nearly year-round,
work calls from beach cafés, a network of phenomenal women entrepreneurs and expats.
Lisbon is becoming Europe’s tech hub, attracting ambitious, supportive, and inspiring people
from around the world. This type of an ecosystem of location-independent accomplished
professionals and expats can maybe be found in Dubai, but it is hard to match anywhere in
Europe. Portugal is also deeply cultured, gentle and safe. It lacks harshness and brutality. Those who
live here - or visit Portugal - will know exactly what I mean.
7. Adding Value through Mentorship & Advisory Roles: You have expressed interest in
taking on more advisory, mentoring and board positions in 2025. What do you think is the
most important quality for an advisor/mentor to have? Do you embody it?
One quality that stands out for me is the ability to ask questions, rather than imposing own
opinions or prescribing specific actions. It takes a certain maturity and humility to approach
advice this way - stepping back and inviting founders or CEOs to ‘disrupt themselves’ rather
than directing them. Open-ended questions are invitations to think, to reframe, to uncover
blind spots. To create space for fresh perspectives.
I’ve noticed that women are often good at asking the right questions. For me, it’s something
I consciously practice in my advisory and mentoring roles. It sounds simple, but it’s not. The
ability to ask good questions requires strategic foresight and experience - being able to look
around corners for threats and opportunities that aren’t obvious yet, instead of just
focusing on what’s obvious.
8. Rocket Boosting Success: You’re known as a ‘Rocket Booster’ for your energy and results-
driven approach. What are your top three strategies for turning plans into impactful
actions?
These are the three nuggets of wisdom I always have in the back of my head:
1. ‘When it all comes down to it, nothing trumps execution’. Gary Vaynerchuk who I
met in London always points to the basic power of getting things done.
2. ‘Strategy without execution is hallucination’. Thomas Edison
3. ‘And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the
risk it took to blossom’ Anais Nin’s words remind us that our job in life is to unfold
and blossom rather than spend our time living tight and small. This quote wakes me
up to action.
9. Creative Outlets and Professional Growth: How has your poetry and creative work (e.g.
loveandlisbon.com or becoming a columnist for Lifestyle Portugal) influenced your business
mindset and decision-making as a strategist and mentor?
In February 2022, I severely injured my right knee in a skiing accident in Austria which led to
surgery and long months of recovery. During this time, I discovered the unexpected relief in
writing poetry. Initially I wrote to forget my reality. With time I realized that my creativity
has made me more human (and feminine) and allowed for a new and better connection
with other humans! The result is that I relate to clients’ stories, emotions, and perspectives
differently and am more nuanced as a mentor and advisor.
Once I started writing, there was no stopping. Earlier this year some of the LinkedIn posts
I’ve written about my love for Portugal and entrepreneurship went viral, leading to press
articles and eventually to becoming a columnist for Lifestyle Portugal. I regularly receive
messages from people sharing how my words influenced their thinking and helped them in
life. I find it very humbling and rewarding. I want my creative efforts to bring authenticity,
truth and beauty to the world.
Connect with Anna
Instagram: @bruxellesblonde
Website (professional) riverbankadvisors.com
Website (poetry) loveandlisbon.com
Linktree: linktr.ee/anna.mulock.houwer