If you ever need proof that humble beginnings can lead to extraordinary achievements, look no further than the well-loved university lecturer, Dr Renier Grosch.

Many of his students know him as the easy-natured, quirky lecturer who warns them not to “go down that rabbit hole” if they ask a question that might lead to an overly detailed response. The guy loves to talk and is passionate about strategic finance. 

@uwconline From businessman to lecturer, and now PhD graduate, Renier Grosch celebrates this milestone with his family and his 80-year-old mother, the woman who made it all possible. #IAmUWC #UWCGrad2025 ? original sound - University of the Western Cape

At the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) recent graduation ceremony, he obtained his doctorate from the Economics and Management Sciences Faculty, six years after starting as a lecturer in the former School of Business and Finance and now the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.  

Judging by the joy this highlight brings to his students and colleagues, it is easy to see why the endearing academic often refers, with a smile, to having reached the ‘44th floor’ in the corporate sector - the point, he jokes, where you either jump or get pushed out. Choosing instead to jump, he ventured into entrepreneurship before embracing academia in 2019, where his passion for people, entrepreneurship, and books continues to thrive.

A few quick interviews with some of his students revealed similar responses: “He is a really cool guy. He has a pleasant way of dealing with people, is considerate and helpful, and is always ready to help with a smile. I find him to be respectful, and I especially appreciate that he is able to teach his subject while backing it up with practical experience in the workplace. This isn’t always a given in academia,” were some of the comments.

Dr Grosch said obtaining his doctoral degree was a milestone of self-actualisation, one inspired by an uncle (Charles) who had a master’s degree—he always had it in the back of his mind. Even as a child growing up in Bishop Lavis.

“I grew up without a father, and we stayed with family. We lived in a crowded household of 19 people at one point,” he said. “We had to sleep in shifts and go outside just to change your mind. But we lived together — it was fun, and we were happy to be brought up in a very close-knit family.”

He remembers studying during his matric year, by candlelight, supported by a family who sacrificed their dreams so he could pursue his. And today, his PhD is helping underserved small business owners overcome the difficulties associated with entrepreneurship.

His mother, Joyce, never had the privilege of pursuing a tertiary education and worked as a "tea girl" at a civil engineering firm, where her boss, Mr Buddy Sydow, assisted Dr Grosch in enrolling in full-time study for a degree in civil engineering. 

“She was the quiet force behind my success, and she kept it a secret that she couldn’t afford for me to be a full-time student. She started distributing my CV, which significantly contributed to my career advancement in the financial services sector.”

Education was a family affair. His aunts and uncles rallied around him, and his brothers dropped out of school to support him. “It was always a joint effort. My mother is a chronic asthmatic and could not work a full-time job for most of her life due to the severity of her condition. My extended family helped carry me through school, as I’ve always been studious and ranked in the top 5 of my class at every grade.”

But despite excelling in science and mathematics, civil engineering didn’t spark joy for him: "I studied all the engineering subjects, but I never had an interest in them. I just didn’t like it." He switched to part-time studies and eventually earned his master’s degree in business administration 20 years ago.

But the dream of a doctorate never faded. Inspired by an uncle, “Charles,” whose certificates hung proudly on the wall, Dr Grosch kept pushing, mentioning how his uncle’s academic journey inspired him.

Meanwhile, he pursued his entrepreneurial flair, owning two real estate franchises and a financial services franchise from a multinational South African financial services company. Despite his successes, he also laments the epic failures along the way. These failures were the catalyst that sparked his research interest. “I asked myself: if I had the qualifications, a proven franchise model, and the necessary management skills, why did failure still form part of the journey? This critical question catalysed his PhD research, focused on early-stage businesses and the persistently high failure rate among South African entrepreneurs.” 

Dr Renier Grosch and his wife Melissa.

During the COVID pandemic in 2020, despite testing negative for the virus, he had an extended illness, which ultimately led to his being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital. “This near-death experience changed my outlook on life. Realising how short life is and how precious life and time are, I set out to fulfil a lifelong goal and pursue my PhD studies with vigour.” 

His research is deeply rooted in the community. He studied small business owners along the West Coast, exploring their challenges. He cites a mnemonic, “CCD,” which is also the registration of Robertson, one of his favourite rural towns in the Western Cape. CCD is a mnemonic for “Create, Capture, Deliver”, accredited to Osterwalder and Pigneur, the authors of Business Model Theory. CCD offers a simple yet powerful heuristic for thinking about business model generation and innovation. “Many business owners copy instead of create, they concede instead of capture, and they often discard instead of deliver value to their target market.” 

Dr Grosch’s humility is as striking as his intellect. “I never want to forget my humble beginnings, and the Lord must help me maintain that throughout my life here on earth.” He is quick to credit mentors like his supervisor, Prof Zivanayi Nyandoro; the former Heads of Department, Prof Richardson Shambare and Prof Abdullah Bayat; the current HoD, Prof Ntandoyenkosi Sibindi and his former co-supervisor, Dr Marlon Hoffman. Even though he is older than many of them, he smilingly quipped that age isn’t a factor in mentorship. “These were my mentors in academia, and I’m forever grateful to these individuals for the nuggets they liberally shared on this long and often lonely journey.”

His pioneering journey in academia has inspired others in his family to pursue higher education. “My niece is enrolled for a doctorate in law at UWC. My son, Joel, is following a path I once dreamed of, becoming an actuary, and is only two modules away from his professional fellowship. Such is the power of education; it transforms us into pioneers within our families, forging a path that lights the way for those who follow.”

Despite his success, Dr Grosch remains grounded. “There was a time during my entrepreneurial journey where pride set in and where I was at the top of the proverbial ‘food chain’, but completely out of character, and as the proverb says, pride comes before the fall. My disposition is to appreciate my upbringing and to never despise small beginnings.”

And just when you think his story couldn’t get more heartwarming, he shares a touching and delightfully cheeky moment. 

“I mentioned in passing to my son that back in my corporate days, and because of my love for writing, I often spoiled myself with costly branded pens without a second thought. I jokingly said I’d love to own a Mont Blanc Meisterstück; as for me, the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.” 

As a graduation gift, his son handed him a package. Inside was the very pen he’d once casually mentioned. “I was so taken aback and felt a bit awful for a while at the lavish expense, but then I joked… I guess with the postdoc, I mustn’t forget to mention the Porsche 911 I’ve always wanted. One never knows with a future actuary as a son, wishes can come true!”