We recently connected with Esther Akosua Akowuah and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Esther Akosua , thanks for joining us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?

The best boss I’ve ever had was my very first one.
At the start of my career, I had the privilege of working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, under Mr. Bosman Owusu, who was then the Head of the Communications Unit.

Working under him shaped not only my career but the person and leader I am today. He was exceptional not just in competence, but in character. His door was always open to everyone, yet he maintained clear boundaries that commanded respect. He created an environment where you felt seen, safe, and challenged to do your best work.

What stood out most was his intentional care for people. He always thought of me first, even before himself. I remember a project trip around Kumasi , where we stayed overnight and had to leave very early the next morning. Before anything else, he was speaking with the hotel staff, making sure I would get breakfast , not asking for himself, but for me. That moment stayed with me deeply.

Whenever we went out for lunch or attended programs, I sat at the same table with him, ate the same meals he did, and was treated with equal dignity. He never asked me to “order something cheaper” while he chose differently. He believed that respect should be consistent, not hierarchical.

His work ethic was impeccable. Excellence was non-negotiable. He demanded our best every day, but he also rewarded effort and growth. At one point, he personally paid in dollars for me to take an online International Business program. That single act expanded my worldview and instilled in me a lifelong habit of continuous learning, something I still prioritize today.

Everything I am becoming in business and leadership can be traced back to that early experience. By observing him, I learned what it means to lead with empathy, discipline, generosity, and integrity. Mr. Bosman Owusu wasn’t just a boss , he was a mentor, a standard, and a blueprint.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Esther Akosua Akowuah, and I am the Founder and Creative Director of The Girl Atelier Ltd, a Ghanaian clothing brand specializing in bridal costuming and bespoke custom designs.

My journey into business was not linear ,it was born out of disruption, uncertainty, and rediscovery. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I resigned from my role with an oil company to further my studies, but when the pandemic hit, those plans came to a halt. The following year, I applied for a PhD, but I was unable to progress to the final stages of the application. At that point, I felt deeply devastated. I had always been a dreamer, someone who planned far ahead, and suddenly it felt like everything I had envisioned for myself had collapsed.

In the midst of that confusion, my sister shared an Instagram post with me from Gwen Adoo, a Ghanaian hair entrepreneur. She spoke about how her plans to travel abroad didn’t work out and how she chose instead to stay in Ghana and build a successful hair business. Her story struck something in me. It reminded me that sometimes purpose doesn’t disappear ,it simply reroutes.

Fashion had always lived quietly within me. I had studied costuming at the University of Ghana, School of Performing Arts, and I had experience buying and selling clothing. But in that moment, I knew I didn’t want to resell anymore but to create. I asked myself a simple but life-changing question: What can I do now, with what I already have? The answer was clothing.

That was how The Girl Atelier was born earlier than I had planned, but right on time.

What sets my brand apart is that it is not just about making beautiful garments. Every piece is a storytelling tool. Through my designs, I tell stories of women stories of courage, resilience, pain, healing, growth, sisterhood, family, and celebration. My goal has always been to use fashion as a language: to empower, inspire, and remind women that even after broken plans, there is still beauty to be created.

Many people don’t know that The Girl Atelier exists because someone else’s story once gave me the strength to rise. Today, my work is driven by the belief that if one woman’s story could save me, then mine and the stories sewn into my designs can save someone else who is standing on the edge of giving up.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One defining moment of resilience in my journey was a decision I made at the very early stages of building The Girl Atelier. I felt a strong responsibility to build the brand with excellence and structure from the beginning, especially because of the standards I had been exposed to through my corporate experience.

I quickly realized that creativity alone was not enough to sustain a business. To truly grow, I needed to understand systems, leadership, and strategy. While still running the brand, I enrolled in a business program at China Europe International Business School, which supports women entrepreneurs.

What I learned there forced me to confront difficult truths. I made the tough decision to let go of my initial team, restructure the business, and start again applying what I had learned with intention and clarity. It was challenging, but necessary. That experience taught me that resilience is not just about enduring challenges, but having the courage to relearn, rebuild, and lead better.

Any advice for managing a team?

One of the most valuable lessons I received from a former mentor was that motivation starts with clarity and fair incentives. From the beginning, I am intentional about setting clear standards with both my team and my clients.

When someone joins The Girl Atelier, I personally sit them down to walk them through our contracts, values, and vision. Before anything else, I want to understand their personal goals and ensure their vision aligns with the company’s. We operate with a signed team manifesto that defines our shared goals and expectations, so everyone knows what they are working towards.

I lead with care and accountability. I show up for my team, give them room to grow, and encourage personal development beyond the workplace. To reinforce this, I introduced a CEO of the Month initiative, where one team member steps into a leadership role each month. It builds empathy, responsibility, and ownership while reinforcing the standards required to deliver excellence.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: thegirl_atelier