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Women's History Month
In Conversation with
ANJANETTE HOUSER
A Techronicler interview with Anjanette Houser, Director of Product Management and Practice Lead – Product Experience Evolution (PXE), Caylent.
With AI, the difference between a “trendy” feature and a transformative product often comes down to one thing: intentionality. Anjanette Houser, Director of Product Management and Practice Lead at Caylent, has spent her career mastering that distinction. From her early days navigating the creative systems of the video game industry to leading the Product Experience Evolution (PXE) practice today, Anjanette specializes in the delicate art of translating complex technical power into human-centered value.
Anjanette’s journey started with a literal “break” in technology—accidentally reformatting her father’s Apple computer at age seven—a moment that sparked a lifelong fascination with both the potential and the fragility of digital systems. Today, she leads global teams in building AI-enabled products that aren’t just fast, but responsible, resilient, and meaningful.
For our latest Women’s History Month feature, we sat down with Anjanette to discuss why “choosing what not to build” is a leadership superpower, the unique way women are shaping AI interactions, and why she still keeps that original floppy disk from 1985.
Techronicler: Thank you for joining us, Anjanette! Everyone has an origin story! What was the first piece of technology you ever broke, built, or fell in love with?
Anjanette Houser:
The first piece of technology I ever truly interacted with was my father’s Apple IIe. He worked in the automotive industry and was already building allocation programs on his computer while many of his peers were still using physical worksheets.
I was seven when we got that machine, and he let me play games on it – my favorite was Catch a Falling Star, a math game where equations appeared on the screen and numbers fell from the “sky,” and you had to move a net to catch the correct answer.
One day, while enthusiastically exploring the menus, I accidentally discovered how to reformat the drive.
That didn’t go over well.
My father made me sit with him while we “fixed” it, which mostly meant watching him rebuild everything I had erased. Shortly after, he invested in a tape backup—and a lock for his office door.
I still have the floppy disk and the Apple IIe.
And my father still has a lock on his office door… and it’s been 41 years.
But that moment sparked something in me. It was the first time I saw both the incredible potential of technology to modernize how we work—and how fragile those systems can be when handled carelessly.
Techronicler: A lot of careers look like straight lines on LinkedIn. How was yours different? Was there a pivotal moment or ‘happy accident’ that actually steered you toward your current role or niche?
Anjanette Houser:
My career path was anything but linear.
I actually stumbled into technology through a role as a video game producer. What I quickly discovered was that I had a natural instinct for understanding systems—where technology’s limits were, where it could be pushed, and why it sometimes needed to be challenged.
That role opened my eyes to the intersection between technology, creativity, and human behavior. From there, my career evolved organically into product leadership, where those same instincts became incredibly valuable.
At its core, product work is about understanding people, systems, and possibilities—and that curiosity started very early in my career.
Techronicler: What is the one problem or project that is taking up 80% of your brain space this month?
Anjanette Houser:
Right now, a huge amount of my mental energy is focused on ensuring that organizations adopt AI thoughtfully and responsibly.
The challenge isn’t simply building AI capabilities—it’s making sure we are building the right things at the right time, in ways that are secure, ethical, and genuinely valuable to users.
The idea of building AI simply because it’s trendy is honestly a little frightening. Poorly implemented AI can create risks for companies, for users, and even for the environment given the scale of resources these systems require.
My focus right now is helping organizations approach AI with intention: solving meaningful problems, maintaining strong governance, and ensuring that the technology actually improves outcomes rather than simply adding complexity.
Techronicler: Many women still find themselves as the ‘Only’ (only woman, only WOC) in the room. When that happens now, how do you use that visibility to your advantage rather than letting it be a weight?
Anjanette Houser:
When I find myself as the only woman in the room, I approach it very simply: I show up as an equal.
I’m there because I earned the same seat at the table as everyone else. I bring expertise, experience, and perspective that are valuable to the conversation.
Over time I’ve learned that confidence in those moments matters more than anything else. When you show up without fear and speak with clarity, people respond to the substance of your ideas rather than who you are in the room.
The goal isn’t to shrink or overcompensate—it’s to contribute fully and ensure the best ideas win.
Techronicler: Are women in leadership still penalized for being too direct or ‘sharp-elbowed’? Have you ever had to consciously unlearn the habit of being ‘too nice’ or ‘accommodating’ to get a project across the line?
Anjanette Houser:
There are still moments where women are judged differently for being direct, but I’ve learned not to reshape myself to fit expectations that weren’t designed for me in the first place.
Directness is often necessary when you’re responsible for outcomes, timelines, and teams. The key is delivering clarity while still respecting the people around you.
I’ve found that when conversations stay centered on the work—what we’re trying to build, why it matters, and what success looks like—direct communication becomes an asset rather than a liability.
Leadership isn’t about being agreeable; it’s about helping teams make better decisions.
Techronicler: Tell us about a time you had to make a deeply unpopular technical decision (e.g., killing a feature, swapping a tech stack) that turned out to be the right call. How did you handle the pushback?
Anjanette Houser:
In product leadership, killing features is part of the job.
It’s very easy for teams to become emotionally attached to ideas they’ve invested time and energy into. But ultimately, every feature carries cost: development time, maintenance overhead, user complexity, and opportunity cost.
When I recommend cutting something, I ground the conversation in facts—user value, delivery risk, timeline impact, and overall product outcomes.
I always listen carefully to pushback and look for opportunities to compromise where it makes sense. But as a consultant and product leader, my responsibility is to protect the integrity of the product and the team’s ability to deliver meaningful value.
Sometimes the best decision for a product is choosing what not to build.
Techronicler: If you were given $10M to start a company today in a niche outside of your current field, what problem would you solve?
Anjanette Houser:
I would build a platform that uses AI to support animal rescue organizations and dramatically improve adoption outcomes.
Shelters and rescue groups do incredible work, but they often operate with limited resources and fragmented systems. AI could help match animals with potential adopters based on lifestyle, environment, and behavioral compatibility—similar to how recommendation systems work in other industries.
It could also help rescues predict adoption likelihood, identify animals at higher risk of long shelter stays, and coordinate better across rescue networks.
Ultimately, the goal would be simple: help more animals find safe, loving homes faster.
Techronicler: From your seat, how do you see the rise of AI tools changing the trajectory for women entering engineering today?
Anjanette Houser:
One interesting thing I’ve observed is that women often interact with AI systems differently than men do.
Women frequently approach AI conversationally, using it to support everyday decision-making and problem-solving across different parts of their lives. Men often approach it more as a technical tool designed to optimize or accelerate specific tasks.
When half of the consumers of AI systems are women, it becomes incredibly important that women are also involved in designing and building those systems.
Technology reflects the perspectives of the people who create it. If we want AI to deliver meaningful outcomes across society, we need diverse voices shaping how these systems behave and evolve.
Techronicler: What is the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received about negotiating—whether for salary, headcount, or project timelines?
Anjanette Houser:
The best advice I’ve ever received was simple: don’t let someone else determine your worth.
Negotiation is ultimately about understanding the value you bring and being willing to stand behind it. If you compromise too early just to make a situation comfortable, it can set a tone that lasts far longer than the initial negotiation itself.
Sometimes the most powerful move in negotiation is being willing to walk away rather than accepting terms that don’t reflect your contribution.
Techronicler: What is the one book every woman in tech should read this year?
Anjanette Houser:
Fearvana by Akshay Nanavati.
The book explores how fear often appears right before moments of meaningful growth. Instead of avoiding those moments, the idea is to recognize fear as a signal that something important is happening.
In technology—and especially in leadership—fear-based decisions almost always lead to the wrong outcomes. The best decisions tend to come from clarity, curiosity, and courage.
It’s a powerful mindset shift for anyone navigating ambitious work.
Techronicler: If you could change one thing about how we interview and hire in tech to make the process more equitable, what would it be?
Anjanette Houser:
Two things would make a meaningful difference.
First, job descriptions should clearly state that candidates don’t need to meet 100% of the listed qualifications to apply. Research consistently shows that women are less likely to apply unless they meet nearly all criteria, while men often apply with far fewer.
Second, the early stages of the hiring process should be anonymized whenever possible. Removing identifying information from resumes and initial screenings helps reduce unconscious bias and allows candidates to be evaluated more objectively.
Small structural changes like these can have a significant impact on creating a more equitable hiring process.
Techronicler: The ‘broken rung’ (the first step up to manager) is a bigger obstacle than the glass ceiling. How are you personally helping junior women make that specific leap from individual contributor to lead?
Anjanette Houser:
The most effective way to help emerging leaders grow is to create opportunities for them to step into leadership before they officially have the title.
I focus on giving people space to facilitate discussions, guide decisions, and mentor others. When individuals are trusted with responsibility and supported while they grow into it, their confidence develops naturally.
Sometimes leadership development is as simple as saying, “I trust you to run this,” and giving someone the chance to shine.
Anjanette’s insights remind us that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room or the most “agreeable” person at the table—it’s about being the clearest. Whether she’s advocating for anonymized hiring to reduce bias or helping junior women find their “leadership legs” by trusting them to run the room, Anjanette is proof that technology is at its best when it is guided by courage and curiosity.
A massive thank you to Anjanette Houser for her transparency and expertise. Her reminder to “not let someone else determine your worth” is a call to action for every woman navigating the high-stakes world of product and tech.
Anjanette Houser is Director of Product Management and Practice Lead for the Product Experience Evolution (PXE) practice at Caylent. She leads a global team of product managers and experience designers focused on building AI-enabled products and helping organizations modernize how they discover, design, and deliver technology. With a background spanning video games, consulting, and health tech, she specializes in translating complex technical systems into human-centered products. Anjanette is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and helping teams build technology that is responsible, resilient, and meaningful.