The One Leadership Quality Everyone Gets Wrong with Denise Mokadsi

This episode of the Leaders of Influence podcast features Denise Mokadsi, a Melbourne-based integrative health practitioner and belief transformation coach who works with midlife women on energy, clarity, and confidence. The conversation centers on influence as the often-invisible forces, external (like social media, family, society) and internal (beliefs, values, meanings) that shape how we think and act. Denise emphasizes that the true power of influence lies in how much meaning we assign to experiences and how consciously we choose what to let affect us, especially in relation to our core values. She also highlights the darker side of influence as manipulation, in which people may be persuaded to act against their values in exchange for validation, success, or material rewards, unless they remain aware of and aligned with what they truly believe. Takeaways: Influence starts internally, not externally – The impact any person, platform, or situation has on us is determined by the meaning we assign to it and how consciously we choose to let it affect us. Life direction is shaped by who we let influence us – Especially when younger and less self-confident, we may over-rely on respected figures (like parents) and pursue paths that fit their view of our strengths rather than our true passions.   Quotes: "The amount of influence that something or someone has on us is only going to be determined by the level of our experience or meaning we give that interaction with someone or something."   Timeline: 0:00 – Opening Reflection on Influence & Leadership 1:13 – Podcast Introduction & Guest Bio 5:46 – The Role of Beliefs in Influence 8:47 – Trading Values for Validation or Success 10:26 – Influence, Values, and Leadership Integrity 13:27 – Returning to Teaching and Coaching 17:23 – The Puzzle Piece Metaphor 23:41 – Belief, Trauma Work, and a Turning Point 24:34 – From Wheelchair to Dancer 28:05 – Leadership and Influence: Why Leaders Matter 32:46 – Borrowing a Leader’s Confidence 33:45 – Host’s Appreciation and Closing on Leadership 34:29 – From Science to Nursing to Education   Conclusion:  Denise shows that influence isn’t something we chase outside ourselves, but something we consciously reclaim from within. By becoming aware of the meanings we attach to experiences and how those meanings shape our values, health choices, and leadership, we regain agency over our direction in life. Her stories, from being steered by others’ expectations to helping her son transform a devastating diagnosis into a dancing future, underline the power of curiosity, self-trust, and aligned action. Listeners are left with a clear invitation: know your values, trust your inner signals, and choose your influences deliberately so you can lead yourself and others with integrity.