Dr Isaac Nketsiah, who is a PhD graduate in Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) School of Commerce, will celebrate two achievements this graduation season.
Not only did the Ghanaian-born academic achieve his doctorate, but he was also selected as the University of Cape Coast’s (UCC) Fellow for the highly competitive 2026 ToFI 2.0 International Research Fellowship at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
Nketsiah said the fellowship would afford him the opportunity to participate in a collaborative research project titled: ‘Cross-Platform Narratives: From Media Analysis to Knowledge Transfer for Societal Impact (CROSSNAR-4-IMPACT)’ alongside German researchers. He hopes to use the experience to strengthen technology transfer and knowledge exchange systems and to build international research partnerships.
As the Founding Technology Transfer Officer at UCC, Ghana, Nketsiah completed his doctoral research under the sole supervision and mentorship of Professor Thea van der Westhuizen. His thesis, titled: ‘Applying Social Cognitive Career Theory to Entrepreneurial Intentions in Micro, Small and Medium Manufacturing Firms in Ghana’, examined how personal and environmental factors influence entrepreneurial intentions among manufacturing business owners in Ghana.
The study explored self-efficacy, outcome expectations, environmental uncertainty and resilience. It found that self-efficacy did not directly predict entrepreneurial intention, while resilience played an important mediating role in helping entrepreneurs respond to uncertain conditions. The research also proposes practical interventions, including an Entrepreneurial Resilience Development Programme, an Adaptive Entrepreneurship Toolkit and a Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Environmental Scanning and Response System (MESRS).
“To summarise the findings, believing that you can succeed is important, but it may not be enough when circumstances become difficult. Furthermore, entrepreneurs also need the capacity to adapt, recover and continue working towards their goals,” Nketsiah said.
His interest in resilience is closely connected to his own life experiences. During secondary school, he sold second-hand clothes on commission to buy books and contribute to his school expenses. After gaining admission to the University, he placed advertisements in the Daily Graphic seeking financial support when he could not afford the cost of his education. Support from individuals who responded to his appeal, together with an SSNIT student loan, enabled him to enrol at UCC.
Nketsiah is the first person in his family to earn a PhD. His doctoral journey also involved balancing full-time professional responsibilities, family commitments and financial pressures. During the programme, he established a second-hand tyre business to support his family while continuing his academic work.
“My lived experience is my scholarly capital. My background, financial struggles, necessity-driven entrepreneurship and environmental constraints shaped my research questions and deepened my understanding of Ghana’s entrepreneurial landscape,” he said.
Reflecting on his doctoral journey, Nketsiah acknowledges the important role played by his supervisor and mentor, Professor Thea van der Westhuizen. Her encouragement, guidance and persistent support helped him navigate the challenges of doctoral study and develop greater resilience as a researcher.
“This fellowship is a testament to the exceptional doctoral training, mentorship and research culture at UKZN. My supervisor and mentor, Professor Thea van der Westhuizen, continually challenged me to pursue research excellence and explore how knowledge can be translated into practical solutions,” Nketsiah said.
For Nketsiah, the PhD represents a journey shaped by persistence, adaptation, support from others and a commitment to turning difficult experiences into meaningful scholarship.
Professor Thea van der Westhuizen congratulated Nketsiah on his achievements while praising his dedication and work ethic. “Isaac’s doctoral journey reflected both intellectual growth and a commitment to connecting research with practical challenges. He consistently demonstrates exceptional intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to producing impactful, world-class research.”
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini
