The Influence Equation - It’s Time to Rewrite Yours

By Katie Mohamed

August in South Africa carries more than remembrance. It carries a call. A challenge.

A moment for every woman to reflect, to rise, and to reclaim. As we honour Women’s Month, we’re not just looking back at our legacy. We’re being asked to live it. Right now. Loudly or softly. Boldly or gently. But always with intention.

That’s what The Influence Equation is about. It’s not a formula for fame. It’s a framework for impact.

 Voice + Story = Impact.

This isn’t about volume. It’s about value. It's about stepping into a leadership presence that doesn’t perform. It transforms. Because influence isn’t a trick. It’s not reserved for the chosen few.

It’s built, honed, and carried by those who own their voice, tell their truth, and show up with purpose.

But let me ask you: Are you living by your own equation? Or are you still trapped - living for someone else’s formula?

Formulas give you steps. Equations reveal balance. Your equation should be yours: rooted in your lived experience, your lessons, and your legacy-in-the-making.

And remember: experience can’t be Googled. Influence is forged in through brave conversations, in every moment you choose to speak when your voice trembled.

I know Impostor Syndrome well. That nagging voice whispering, “Who do you think you are?” Let me tell you: You are someone with a voice, a story, and a purpose — and that is enough. We don’t overcome Impostor Syndrome by being louder. We overcome it by becoming clearer about who we are, why we’re here, and what we stand for.

The Influence Equation is built on what I call “The 3I’s”:

Intention – Speak to move people, not to impress them. Integrity – Let your story be real, not rehearsed. Interaction – Because influence can’t thrive in isolation.

The people around you matter. Choose good people: those who reflect your values, challenge your blind spots, and hold you accountable to your growth. The right voices won’t compete with yours; they’ll amplify it.

And don’t just network to be visible. Connect to be valuable. Every interaction is a chance to build trust, expand influence, and turn rooms into opportunities. Networking isn’t about handing out business cards. It’s about creating conversations that matter, with people who see you, get you, and elevate you.

So, those rooms - the ones you walk into after today? They need your voice. And they need your story.

This Women’s Month, don’t shrink to fit the spaces around you. Expand them. Command them. Transform them. This is not just about empowerment. It’s about equation realignment. Let’s stop performing. Let’s start leading with alignment. Let’s leave behind the noise and claim the clarity.

Let’s step into the room with intention. And may your voice, your story, and your impact echo long after you leave it.

The Influence Equation isn’t just a personal awakening. It’s a collective strategy. This equation is at the heart of W-Suite’s mission: to equip women with the tools, confidence, and networks to get a seat at the table and have their voice heard. Whether you’re at the boardroom table, behind the mic, or building from the ground up, your voice and your story are instruments of impact. The Influence Equation is how we rewrite what leadership looks like, together. Not just during Women’s Month, but every day we choose to rise with intention and integrity.

Katie Mohamed is the CEO of BrandFusion, W-Suite, and ChangeHub. With 30 years of experience in strategic communications, women’s empowerment, and socio-economic development, she is a voice for transformative leadership and inclusive innovation in South Africa.

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