May, the founder of the Ruby Valley, is descended from two generations comprising miners, gemstones collectors, traders and jewellery makers despite small scale since the 1930s. As a third-generation woman, no day passes by without learning or exposure to gemstones and jewellery. She is naturally passionate all about the finest rubies, gemstones and jewellery. When she grew up, she also had another passion, i.e., to work for development, because of poverty across the country. She also followed her passion for development and well achieved to advance her knowledge such as opportunities to study Master's degrees in International development at one of the world’s top universities, the University of Manchester (2018-2019) and Asian Institute of Technology (2014-2016). The Commonwealth Office (now FCDO) awarded her the Chevening Scholarship (2018-2019), and The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs awarded her the scholarship (2014-2016) acknowledging her passion for international development.
Our Founder and CEO
Studying outside her country and staying in a very diverse environment made her eyes wide-open. She got all the chances to see the truth that lots of people across the world love gemstones and jewellery, value them like she does, and understand the value of authenticity of these stones regardless of their low or high market prices.
Eventually, she finds the entrepreneurial pathway that can bring both her passions for gems & jewelry and development. She believes this company brings not just simply the business but all the chances to disadvantaged people from the birthplace of the world’s finest rubies and precious gemstones - a remarkable change over many decades.
She is open to all international partners should you be interested in buying, collaborating, and/or any detailed discussion about how the partnership can bring positive changes to indigenous people and Mogok (Ruby Land) as a whole. Please reach out to her email address, may.kyaw@ruby-valley.com, for more discussion.
Currently, she is also a Gemmology Diploma candidate (FGA) at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) as her continuous learning to advance in-depth knowledge of gemmology and enhance her gemmological skills.