In conversation with …
Prof Jannie Rossouw
Prof Jannie Rossouw is a Professor at
Wits Business School . He is one of the doyens of economics in South Africa . Now in 2021 , amid unprecedented circumstances and as he is nearing retirement , Rossouw shares some wisdom he gleaned over more than four decades of his working life .
Are you really retiring this year ? If so , what do you plan to do ?
I celebrated my 65 th birthday in January . Company policy at my current employer is that one must step down as Head of School once reaching the age of 65 and retire at the end of that year . But just because I am downing tools at the university does not mean I am going to stop working .
I am not going to now venture into the unknown … like opening my own coffee shop . I know nothing about running a shop . Too many retirees fall into the trap of thinking that they can venture into something completely new , only to realise that it is beyond their abilities and hard work , not only fun .
I am therefore going to stick to what I am good at : macroeconomics .
I am already in the process of setting up my own consultancy . I plan to do evidence-based macro-economic research for clients . If you want to go and search the latest trends concerning macroeconomic movement and the implication thereof on say a specific sector , there is nothing that keeps you from doing the research yourself . However , asking me to do so with all my knowledge will be a much better investment of your time and money .
Apart from my own consultancy , I also plan to continue with what I will call “ community service ”. I am a member of the Board of the SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and serve on its Audit and Risk Management Committee . I also serve on the Audit and Risk Committee of the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument , and on the Boards of Trustees of two retirement funds .
What were some career highs and lows ?
The absolute highlight in my life – and it has nothing to do with my career – was the day I met my wife Sunélle . She has always been there for me .
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