Chris Wilson: House of DaVinci

Chris Wilson murdered a man at age 17. He was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison. But what happened next is nothing short of remarkable. While imprisoned, he wrote his grand plan and then got to work. He earned his high school diploma and associates degree, graduated from all of the vocational shops, and started a book club and a new business, all while behind bars. 16 years later, a judge granted him freedom. Now he runs several social enterprises, including a furniture restoration business and a construction company under the umbrella of Barclay Investment Corporation, which trains and hires returning citizens. And he's a student at the University of Baltimore. His story might sound too amazing to be true. But when you listen to his stories, you'll come away with new insights about leadership, human relationships, and entrepreneurship. He shares some important lessons around building a board of directors and fostering trust with clients and the community. His "positive delusion" and sense of purpose is infectious.

Connect with Chris at http://chriswilson.biz. For more information, photos, and links, check out the show notes at http://makeitinla.org/chriswilson

The views expressed on The Art of Manufacturing podcast are those of the guests, and not our sponsors or partners.