From prison to popcorn empire: CEO shares story at HERhalton breakfast

It may be the ultimate comeback story; one that serves to inspire other women and just about anyone facing hardships.

Emily O’Brien’s journey, from convicted criminal to successful entrepreneur, recently took centre stage at Haltech’s HERhalton breakfast celebrating International Women’s Day.

The March 9 gathering at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Milton brought together dozens of women from across the region to hear O’Brien’s tale and message on the power of comebacks.

“We all fall down in life, but we all know that empowering someone to pick themselves up and make a comeback can lead to so many great things,” she said.

It may come as no surprise, then, that O’Brien’s business is named Comeback Snacks — a gourmet popcorn company that she actually started planning while behind bars.

How she got to prison is another story that began about a decade ago as she coped with personal struggles, drugs and alcohol while trying to build a social media company in Toronto.

A trip down south goes very wrong

She met a man who started as a client, then became a friend. They went on to have a trusting relationship for about eight months before he asked if she wanted to go on vacation to Puerto Rico.

It wasn’t until she was at the airport that O’Brien realized her plane ticket said they’re going to St. Lucia — one of several red flags.

“The trip was fun for the first three days, but after that everything changed,” she recalled.

This person whom she had trusted then made it clear they were in St. Lucia to work, and that he had arranged for them to bring drugs back to Canada.

“I didn’t think it was real yet. I thought this has got to be a joke,” she said.

An older woman took her shopping for a long floral dress to disguise what she would have underneath, a garment she described as “Spanx for smugglers" or bike shorts that have pouches in the front and back to conceal drugs.

“The next few days were a nightmare,” she said. “At that point I realized this was my fault and I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to go home.”

When they got off the plane in Canada, she said she was shaking and that her “loud body language” gave her away. She was pulled aside by airport authorities to be searched.

After being arrested then getting bailed out by her family on a $50,000 bond, she was on house arrest for two and a half years before pleading guilty and heading to a federal correctional institute in Kitchener.

“I knew this was my time to take ownership, to take accountability,” she said. “I believe I was always a good person, but I wanted to start that part of my life differently.”

The birth of Comeback Snacks

While behind bars, O'Brien said she channelled everything into bettering herself and making a difference.

From there, the concept for Comeback Snacks was born in a prison kitchen alongside her fellow inmates.

O’Brien has now built a popcorn empire that provides job opportunities and connections for those who were formerly incarcerated.

Comeback Snacks has its products in 750 stores, with some of the unique flavours inspired by the popcorn O’Brien made in prison.

“Most of all, I wanted a new venture that removes the stigma associated with having a criminal conviction, and one that has fun and a sense of humour about itself,” she said. “Our slogan is, ‘So good, it’s criminal.’”

Today, O’Brien said she finds herself connecting with and helping others from around the world while working in an industry that’s dominated by men.

“What’s important is that we continue to trail blaze for the future of women everywhere so our struggles today lead to the victories and new standards of tomorrow,” she said.

The compelling speaker went on to share many life lessons she’s learned from her experience, with an overarching message to remember past hurts and wrongs, but not to be consumed by negativity over those transgressions.

“We have to learn from them, improve ourselves from them and spread this knowledge out to the world,” she said.

“Women have overcome an incredible amount of obstacles by doing just this, and we will continue to do so in the future. Let’s do it as beacons of light that won’t let the darkness in.”

The event wrapped up with more inspiring words from a panel of female entrepreneurs alongside O'Brien.