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. 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 possibly can, though I admit, it’s an ongoing dance. Be confident that you will fit at the right table. Stay grounded in your 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 opportunities 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 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:
- Work & inspiration
- Health & wellness
- Friends & family
- Love & intimacy
- 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 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:
- ‘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.
- ‘Strategy without execution is hallucination’. Thomas Edison
- ‘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
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamulockhouwer/
Instagram: @bruxellesblonde
Website (professional): riverbankadvisors.com
Website (poetry): loveandlisbon.com
Linktree: linktr.ee/anna.mulock.houwer
Article: https://lifestylemag.pt/work-play-love/