Playing dad to two girls -- and the SA economy
Chamber chief treads carefully to perform tricky double act
BY day, Neren Rau heads the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci). By night, he sings nursery rhymes to his daughters before tucking them into bed.
Juggling a high-pressure job and the demands of two children keeps Rau on his toes, but a cup of cappuccino helps him to get through his day. Rau, 43, the CEO of Sacci, met us at his favourite coffee spot, Tashas at The Zone in Rosebank, to talk about his career and fatherhood.
He is married to Menishka and they have two daughters: Siana, 2, and eight-month-old Avya.
“It is extraordinarily difficult being a parent. People often say it doesn’t matter what age you start a family. I beg to differ.
“I feel younger people ease into parenthood far better than older people. When you are older, your career is at a more mature stage and needs your attention, and children are just as demanding.
“I have had to streamline my interests to be there for my family and exceed the requirements expected of me at work.”
Rau, a car enthusiast, used to enjoy driving his Porsche in his pre-father days, but after the children came along, he opted for a bigger family sedan.
His passion for running has also been put on hold because he now has to help Menishka to get the children ready in the mornings before they go to work.
Rau is the most important man in his daughters’ lives, but they are not aware that he is also tasked with making a difference to the South Africa economy.
Durban-born Rau, who now lives in Sandton, took over as CEO of Sacci in 2008. In six years, he has managed to steer it on a more prosperous path.
“Working at Sacci has taught me a lot. It has been a challenge. We are a small team and have to handle 20 000 small, medium and large enterprises across all economic sectors.
“But I get to make a difference in our economy and it means a lot to me. Although I support the right to strike, the recent strikes have been a big problem for Sacci. It has many international companies questioning how South Africa is perceived as an investment destination.
“This current period is critical to change the negative trajectory. South Africa is a resilient country and we are hopeful things will change for the better.”
Rau graduated with an honours degree in finance from the then University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal) in 1992 and moved to Johannesburg to lecture in business management at the Witwatersrand Technikon.
During that time, he completed a master’s degree at Rand Afrikaans University (now the University of Johannesburg) and then became a certified
Although I support the right to strike, the recent strikes have been a big problem for Sacci
director of companies.
He moved to Rhodes University, specialising in marketing and finance, and in 1999 took a post at the Treasury. He then played a senior role at the Reserve Bank before joining Sacci. His contract ends in December.
“I’m still undecided about whether I want to leave Sacci, but the nature of the corporate world is that you have to keep moving. Making a difference is what drives me and it is what I am passionate about.
“Wherever I decide to go next, I hope when my daughters are old enough, they will be proud of their father’s achievements.”