What does it really take to survive Engen The Making Of? Grit, brains, hustle – and a thick skin. For these six entrepreneurs, the experience was more than just a competition. It pushed their limits, sharpened their instincts and forced them to level up as business owners. From emotional curveballs to game-changing insights, here’s how The Making Of 2024 left its mark on the contestants – and their ventures.
Bongani “Bobo” Moko
Bongani “Bobo” Moko is the founder of Moko Design House, a fashion brand in Tembisa specialising in gender-neutral clothing and handcrafted leather accessories.
“Engen TMO challenged me to think more holistically about my business. It taught me that running a successful brand isn’t just about creating great products, but also about understanding your market, building relationships and continuously adapting to change.”
Duduetsang Kau
Duduetsang Kau, from Rustenburg, runs RE-L8, a brand that manufactures multi-purpose clothing – including a bag that converts into a jacket.
“Engen TMO helped me to grow in wonderful ways. The judges always gave us both positive and negative feedback – one judge even said that for every criticism you give someone, you should give them five compliments – and that’s something I’ve implemented into my business.”
Leigh Thegwani
Leigh Thegwani leads Unfiltered Media House in Johannesburg, an agency focused on brand building, content development, digital marketing, public relations and events.
“I now make better, more informed decisions and no longer hold back in situations where I could shine. I am glad I participated in the competition as it instilled some great qualities in me, such as resilience, determination and the ability to handle pressure. It also helped me improve my skills and gain valuable experience that I can carry forward in both my personal and professional life.”
Rhulani Hlugwani
Rhulani Hlugwani, based in Giyani, is the founder of The House of Boldpearl, which specialises in manufacturing, repairing and hiring out furniture.
“The whole competition experience was emotionally taxing but it made me realise that, in entrepreneurship, there’s always going to be a problem that catches you off guard. You just need to breathe and grab the bull by its horns.”
Mpho Podile
Mpho Podile from Soweto runs Bakwena Innovation Den, which provides digital marketing solutions and addresses the environmental impact of e-waste.
“Participating in Engen The Making Of helped me engage with other talented entrepreneurs, industry experts and mentors and has expanded my professional network. These connections have not only provided support but also opened doors to collaboration and new partnerships.”
Mongezi Masombuka
Mongezi Masombuka runs Clowdy in Johannesburg, offering IT and cloud-based business solutions.
“It pushed me to realise that business problems and solutions can be solved very quickly. I’m actually thinking of implementing something similar in my organisations, where a business problem has to be solved within four hours. It is possible.”
