About

My Story

I’m so glad you’re here. Allow me to share a bit of my journey that has shaped who I am today and the values I bring to my work.

Hey there, I'm Anna!

Welcome to my little corner! I'm Anna C Mallon, and I wear quite a few hats – entrepreneur, mentor, speaker, mother and eternal optimist.

My journey? It's been a wild ride! I've built five businesses from the ground up, worked with big tech like AWS and Google, each one teaching me something new about success, failure, and the importance of a good night's sleep.

Along the way, I discovered something pretty amazing: you can chase your dreams without running yourself into the ground.

Now, I'm all about sharing that secret sauce with other ambitious souls. Whether you're a stressed exec, a budding entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, I'm here to help you rock your goals without sacrificing your sanity.

My mission? To prove that success and wellbeing are co-related. I truly believe we can change the world without losing ourselves in the process.

“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realise we only have one.” - Confucius

The Early Years

I was born in Germany in 1980 and moved to Brussels, Belgium, when I was five years old. Growing up, I discovered the art of independence early on, spending extensive periods of time on my own. I developed an ability to forge my own pathways and carve out opportunities for myself entirely from scratch. Influenced by my German mother and American stepfather, and surrounded by friends from various nations and religions, I embraced the rich multicultural environment around me. Their narratives left an indelible mark on me – they were an early immersive education in the value of ensuring every person felt seen, heard, and equipped with an opportunity to make an impact on the world around them. This experience ignited my passion for working towards a future grounded in fairness and equality.

Embracing Entrepreneurship

In 1999, I earned my European Baccalaureate and embarked on an adventure to Hawaii to study at Hawaii Pacific University. It was there that I met my future husband, marking the beginning of an incredible journey together. In 2000, we moved to Berlin, Germany, where I worked at NGN and founded CitrusTV (CTV), my first venture into the world of digital media. By 2002, I had earned my diploma in Digital Film Production from SAE Institute, fueling my passion for storytelling through film.

SAE Institute New Campus Launch (2009)

SAE Institute

Building and Growing

Returning to Brussels in 2002, I became Head of Digital Film at SAE Institute Brussels, where I built and launched the new Digital Film Department, achieving government and Middlesex University accreditation. In 2004, my husband and I moved to Singapore, a place that would become our home for the next 15 years. In Singapore, I worked as a Media Producer, driving business growth through successful partnerships and multimedia projects for high-profile clients like Singapore General Hospital and the National Heritage Board.

Leadership and Growth

In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts, balancing my growing responsibilities as I joined SAE Institute Singapore as Assistant Manager. By 2007, I was promoted to General Manager, and eventually Regional Director, where I closed key partnerships with Apple, Edelman and Adobe. Under my leadership, we increased annual sales revenues from $1.7 million to $3 million (a 105% increase) and boosted student numbers by 80%.

My journey also included significant academic partnerships with MIT Gambit, Middlesex University, and Qantm College. I executed three office expansions and a campus relocation of 10,000 sq ft, ultimately helping sell the global education network to Navitas.

Personal Milestones

2008 was a special year as we welcomed our first child, Tony. Balancing motherhood with my career, I continued to push boundaries. In 2012, our daughter Malia was born, adding more joy to our family.

During this time, I also founded another business: The Creative Experience (TCE), a corporate training and innovation company closing deals and delivering programs for major corporations like KPMG, HP, Credit Suisse, Meta, Amazon, Schneider Electric, Shell, Daimler, Parkway Pantai, and SMU.

The Creative Experience in 2012

Startup2Life in 2017

Leadership and Growth

Personal Milestones

2008 was a special year as we welcomed our first child, Tony. Balancing motherhood with my career, I continued to push boundaries. In 2012, our daughter Malia was born, adding more joy to our family.

During this time, I founded TCE, forging key corporate and innovation training deals and delivering these with major corporations like KPMG, HP, Credit Suisse, Meta, Amazon, Schneider Electric, Shell, Daimler, Parkway Pantai, and SMU.

Entrepreneurial Expansion

From 2010 to 2015, I played a pivotal role in JFDI’s investment portfolio, helping launch over 70 technology startups. My work contributed to creating more than 350 jobs and significantly boosting the value of these startups to over $450 million.

I initiated and managed strategic partnerships with leading corporations including Bosch, Munich Re, Google, National University of Singapore, INSEAD, ETPL, and A*Star, developing and delivering over 50 education and corporate programs that impacted over 1,000 individuals.

Founding Startup2Life

In 2016, I founded Startup2Life (S2L), a platform designed to empower aspiring founders and support startups. This venture included partnerships with Dentsu Aegis, LinkedIn, Shell, F4S, Collision 8, Antler, Startupbootcamp, Seedstars, and many others.

One of the highlights was launching the 6Week2Startup program and speaking at EdTechXAsia, which further solidified my commitment to nurturing early-stage entrepreneurs. The 6Week2Startup program supported over 100 early-stage entrepreneurs from over 20 countries with a 95% satisfaction rate and a 50% increase in successful product launches.

Corporate Innovation and Mentorship

Between 2016 to 2020, I served as a startup scout and coach for Investible and a mentor at She Loves Tech, forging partnerships with organizations like F4S, Innov8rs, Slush, German Accelerator, Global Incubators Network, and Singapore Tourism Board.

During this time, I also became certified in Adult Training and Digital Business Transformation with Hyper Island.

In 2020, I joined the Amazon Web Service’s (AWS) Startups Team as global Startup and VC Ecosystem lead collaborating with VCs like Sequoia, Northzone, EBAN, 500 Startups, NVIDIA and mentoring top soonicorn and unicorn startups like Bunq, Classpass, Canva, Adyen, Stripe, Celonis, Personio, Mollie, Mistral AI, Hugging Face, Collibra, MessageBird and many more, I also earned my AWS Cloud Practitioner certification and became a mentor at Techstars and Founders Institute.

Recent Ventures and Impact

In 2023, I launched my podcast, sharing insights and stories to inspire and guide others on their journeys.

I was honored to be featured in Forbes, and in 2024, I joined Mindvalley and founded ExitPath Ventures, continuing my mission to empower individuals and organizations through innovative and impactful programs. I was also awarded LinkedIn Voice in 2024.

Kaplan University Industry Advisory Board (2017)

Supporting Entrepreneurs at Shell Idea Refinery's Pitch at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore

Since 2020 a proud Techstars Mentor (2020)

Fortunate to be a Slush Speaker and Partner (2018)

Supporting Soonicorn Startups like Weaviate (2022)

Proud Mentor & Judge of KPMG's Emerging Giants (2023)

Honoured Mentor of She Loves Tech (2019)

So proud of S2L's 6W2SU Cohort (2017)

Empowering Voices and Enabling Access for All

In my 23-year career, I’ve worked across continents and industries, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Integrity, inclusivity, and believing in everyone’s potential are at the core of everything I do.

One of my key missions is to help people balance hypergrowth with well-being. Success should never come at the expense of health. My own experiences with burnout have taught me how important it is to prioritize well-being alongside career growth.

I know how powerful diverse teams and inclusive leadership can be. Whether it’s tackling unconscious bias or mentoring underrepresented founders, I’m dedicated to creating spaces where innovation thrives.

Storytelling is another essential tool I use. From pitching to investors to leading teams, telling authentic stories helps connect us on a human level and drives change.

My vision is simple: a world where everyone can thrive, innovate, and make a meaningful impact. By embracing diversity and driving innovation, we can build a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

I am committed to enabling access for all and ensuring that everyone has their voice heard.

Family is my Foundation

My husband and I have two wonderful children who are the center of my universe. Despite being a full-time entrepreneur and advisor, I am deeply committed to being a conscious and present wife and mother.

One of the reasons I’ve pursued various entrepreneurial ventures and created impactful programs is to immerse my family in enriching experiences with inspiring people. This has allowed us to embrace different cultures and perspectives, living in various parts of the world.

For me, it's not about work-life balance, but work-life integration. My career enables my children to learn and grow in ways I never could have imagined as a child. I am passionate about extending these enriching experiences and opportunities to other families, helping them integrate their professional and personal lives seamlessly.

Redefining education for an inclusive future

Education shapes our collective future. My mission is to transform the global education system of all ages to be inclusive, accessible, and innovative, keeping pace with technological and social changes.

Our current education models are outdated, focusing on rote learning and exams rather than creativity and critical thinking. Through my initiatives, speaking engagements, and mentorship, I aim to create a continuous learning journey.

By reimagining education, we can empower individuals to reach their full potential and foster a culture of innovation and inclusivity. Let's build a future where education is a lifelong adventure and every voice is heard.

Every year, I travel to various events across the globe, presenting talks on balancing hypergrowth and health, corporate wellness, unconscious bias, effective pitching, and resilience and transformation for entrepreneurship and career change.

Speaking on stage is one of my most important platforms for empowering high achievers and individuals navigating significant changes. I’ve delivered keynotes alongside industry leaders and innovators.

For me, nothing quite compares to the exhilaration of being on stage, sharing insights and strategies that have the potential to transform lives and elevate professional success.

Working with early-stage investment group Investible and founder Creel Price

Celebrating with my Mentees from Ai startup Xquire at Techstars Demoday 🚀

Working with LinkedIn and Dentsu to support female Entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia

Honoured to Partner with the founder from Enrupt to lead Shell's Idea Refinery and Employee Hackathons

Working with Singapore's multinational bank

Private University Dean and Ed-tech Startup Dinner

Let's Connect & Grow
Together

It is my pleasure to serve and connect with you on this journey of growth and transformation. Whether you're an ambitious entrepreneur, an aspiring business owner, or a corporate professional seeking to maximize your potential, I am here to support and inspire you every step of the way. Please reach out—let’s create impactful together.