As an entrepreneur, which do you fear more…Success or Failure? If entrepreneurs were asked to pick one, instinctively, many would say failure is what is most feared. But, have you ever given any thought to how much you might fear success? While it might sound implausible and counterintuitive, the fear of success could be what’s holding you back from realizing even bigger goals. This September, Tisha McCoy-Ntiamoah, founder of PrePOPsterous, will be presenting at the inaugural Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit as a keynote speaker. She will be leading the opening fireside chat about “Fearing Forward,” and discussing the role that fear of success plays in an entrepreneur’s business journey.
Tisha McCoy-Ntiamoah is the owner and Chief Popcorn Enthusiast behind PrePOPsterous® Gourmet Popcorn & Sodas, based in Bridgewater, VA. Her first job as a teenager was working for a gourmet popcorn company, and that experience planted the kernels for what would become her lifelong dream. Twenty-five years later, in 2015, she embarked on that dream and launched PrePOPsterous® as an online e-commerce brand. Prior to launching the company, McCoy-Ntiamoah previously held careers as a sales representative for Hershey Chocolate USA, and as a higher education administrator at James Madison University. After four years of running the business part-time, alongside her full-time career, McCoy-Ntiamoah pivoted from her career in higher education to running the business full-time.
In 2019, PrePOPsterous® was one of 24 brands to receive the “Made In Virginia” award from Virginia Living Magazine, which celebrates innovation, entrepreneurship, and craft in food and drink. In 2017, the McCoy-Ntiamoah won “Spark Tank”, a local business innovation competition awarding a $20,000 business accelerator marketing package.
In addition to leading her business, McCoy-Ntiamoah is engaged in the local community through various boards and organizations. She serves on the boards of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Chamber of Commerce and the Connections Early Learning Center. She is a co-facilitator for Launch Harrisonburg, a nine-week incubator for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. McCoy-Ntiamoah is passionate about encouraging companies to develop strong branding and is a proponent of companies investing in their intellectual property.
McCoy-Ntiamoah earned her B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas, and an M.A. in Counseling & Personnel Services from the University of Maryland (College Park). She enjoys life with her husband and three small children.
Register for this year’s first-ever Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit, and hear from inspiring entrepreneurs like Tisha McCoy-Ntiamoah!