Rio spent 10 years working for a global marketing research organization in the media space. In the last 20 years, he has been a Communications and Public Relations specialist working with several listed and unlisted companies in South Africa. He has consulted to entities in Financial Services, Industrial, Mining and Retail. This has also included a sizable time spent crafting strategies to help companies engage with communities and other stakeholders. He has also provided his skills on a pro bono basis to several NGO who operate in the Social Justice arena.

Rio serves as a trustee of two NGOs, the Soweto based Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) and the Field Band Foundation, a national organization which operates marching bands throughout the country. Rio and two high school friends have also set up a foundation for their former High School in Soweto. Rio also possesses of other skills such as Marketing and Mentoring and Coaching.