Ruby Buah | Ghana | Lead With Heart & Refuse to Settle!
- EA
- May 13
- 3 min read
Founder & CEO at Kua Designs
Entrepreneur | Philanthropist - Giving Back
Ruby Buah’s story begins in Ghana, where life was painted in hues of love, sacrifice, and quiet strength. Raised by a father whose selflessness knew no bounds and a mother named Kua whose grace anchored their home, Ruby learned early that abundance wasn’t always about material things—it was about heart, faith, and the fire to dream beyond your circumstances. The name Kua would one day become more than just a memory. It would become her mission. Growing up, Ruby didn’t have all the privileges many take for granted, but what she did have was priceless: a family that believed in her, a community that shaped her, and an unshakable determination to rise. Education became her launchpad. She earned her place at the highly esteemed Wesley Girls’ High School in Ghana, a school known for nurturing brilliance in young women. From there, her ambitions took flight across the Atlantic, where she pursued a degree in Business Administration at Wesleyan College in Georgia, USA. But Ruby’s story didn’t stop at business. She carried within her a spark for creativity that refused to be ignored. So she followed that calling all the way to New York City, enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Technology to study Jewelry Design. It was there, surrounded by artistry and innovation, that Ruby began to weave together the two parts of her world—business and creativity—into something truly her own. Her first career steps were taken in the structured world of finance, including a secure position as a Financial Analyst at Coca-Cola in Atlanta. It was a path many dream of—stable, prestigious, and neatly mapped out. But Ruby had a different vision for her life. One that couldn’t be contained in boardrooms and spreadsheets. So she made a leap that would scare most: she walked away from certainty to chase purpose. From that brave decision came Kua—a fashion and accessories brand named in honor of her mother and anchored in heritage. But Kua is not just a brand. It’s a story. A celebration of African identity. A declaration of authenticity. Through jewelry, handbags, and apparel for women and children, Ruby crafts more than products—she creates statements of culture, pride, and possibility.
Yet what makes Ruby’s journey so powerful isn’t just her success—it’s how she’s used every challenge as fuel. The road was never smooth. There were moments when doubt crept in, when production setbacks threatened progress, when funding seemed out of reach. But Ruby kept going. She kept believing. And she kept building something that could touch lives far beyond her own. At the heart of her work is a fierce commitment to community. Ruby trains and employs visually impaired artisans in Ghana to handcraft many of Kua’s jewelry pieces—offering not just jobs, but dignity and purpose. She’s proving that beauty can be built with empathy. That creativity can uplift. That fashion can be a force for good.
And she’s not stopping there. Ruby, alongside her 13-year-old daughter, started Girl Talk—a mentoring space where young girls gather each month to learn, share, and dream boldly. In that room, generations meet. Wisdom is passed on. And girls are reminded that they are worthy, powerful, and capable of anything. To the young people reading her story, Ruby’s life is a message in motion: You don’t have to come from privilege to live with purpose. You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. You just have to be brave enough to take the first step.
If she could speak to her younger self, Ruby would whisper: Your dreams are valid. Stay curious. Trust your voice. You’re allowed to make mistakes. And even when the path gets messy—rise anyway. That mess may just become the masterpiece.
Ruby Buah is more than a designer. More than an entrepreneur. She’s a storyteller, a culture-keeper, a mentor, a mother, and a living testament to what happens when you lead with heart and refuse to settle. She didn’t just build a brand. She’s building a legacy—one that tells every young person watching that they too can rise, reinvent, and create something unforgettable.
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