Emily O’Brien is an entrepreneur and the founder of Comeback Snacks—a specialty popcorn company that challenges the status quo. After being sentenced to a four-year jail term stemming from her battle with addiction, Emily set out on the mission to get clean, transform herself, and make her time in jail as meaningful as possible. Having fostered an entrepreneurial career before her sentence, Emily birthed the idea for Comeback Snacks (formerly ‘Cons and Kernels’)—a popcorn brand that uses high-quality, health-conscious ingredients to create unique flavours inspired by the ones she found and curated in prison. Through her trailblazing efforts, Emily is an example that positive change can happen within correctional institutions with passion, drive, and a positive mindset. Aware of the hardships of being incarcerated, Emily is driven to help remove the stigma surrounding people with prior convictions, as well as give them opportunities for reintegration through training, empowerment and education.
As a leading voice in this unique movement, Emily has been frequently called upon by various media outlets, including CBC, CTV, CHCH, VICE, Global, and more. Most recently, Emily was awarded the Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship award at the 2020 YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction Awards. For more on Emily and her accomplishments, visit her LinkedIn Page.
