Judges
Meet the judges
These industry heavyweights don’t just watch the pitches – they challenge, mentor and decide who survives.
The judges on The Making Of aren’t here to sugarcoat. They’re straight-talking brand builders, strategists and business veterans who know what it takes to succeed. They’ll push the contestants to think bigger, move faster and justify every choice they make – from idea to execution. With years of experience in marketing, design and entrepreneurship, these judges bring the insights and intensity that turn great ideas into market-ready products.
Heidi Brauer
Heidi Brauer is a brand builder, creative strategist, marketer, thought-starter, reader, writer, collaborator and practical explorer. Known fondly as the Brand Mama, she is a seasoned consultant and CMO, having previously worked with big-name brands like Hollard Insurance, Comair Limited and Naked.
A wannabe ballerina, erstwhile boxer, speaker of some Greek and Latin and deep believer in the power of brands and humans, Heidi is the proud creator of ‘sprinkles’ and ‘chocolate cake’ metaphors, and the idea that ‘it takes a village to raise a brand’.
Simlindele Manqina
Simlindele Manqina is the Head: Transformation & Stakeholder Engagement at Engen South Africa. Sim holds a BA Honours Degree in Corporate Communication & a B-Tech Degree in Public Relations Management. He is an ardent strategist specialising in public relations, advertising, applied communication and stakeholder management, and is a Certified Chartered Public Relations Practitioner (CPRP) with the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA).
His overall work experience transcends over 19+ years with stints in diverse sectors ranging from retail, higher learning, public sector & SOEs.