Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Vasquez.
Hi Carlos, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t take the traditional route to leadership. I was homeless by 13, addicted to drugs by 14, and sentenced to 20 years in prison by 19. I spent three of those years in solitary confinement—just me, a steel door, and silence. But in that darkness, I found a spark. A prison chaplain handed me a Bible and told me, “There’s still purpose in your life.” That moment changed everything.
I began reading everything I could get my hands on, books by Nelson Mandela, Viktor Frankl, John Maxwell. I earned a degree in psychology while incarcerated and made a decision: I would transform my pain into purpose. When I came home, I had $200 in my pocket and started over in my late 30s—but I had a vision.
Today, I’m an author or two books, speaker, and the founder of How To Battle, an organization that provides personal and professional development, and second-chance programming. I’ve worked with everyone from Fortune 500 executives to incarcerated youth. I also host a podcast called How To Battle, where I interview people who’ve overcome adversity and have turned their own once pain into purpose.
Everything I do is built around my core philosophy: The PRICE Method, five principles that helped me rebuild my life. I’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when someone believes in themselves and is given the tools to lead. My mission now is simple: help others realize they can rise too.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been anything but smooth. My journey began in survival mode, navigating the streets alone as a teenager, battling addiction, and eventually serving 17 years in prison. That environment tests everything in you: your faith, your hope, your identity. Solitary confinement was especially brutal. You’re forced to face yourself without distraction. But oddly, that’s where I started to heal.
Even after coming home, the challenges didn’t stop. I had no credit, no job history, and no roadmap for reentry. I was starting over in my late 30s, trying to build a business with nothing but belief. I faced rejection after rejection, watched doors close because of my past, and had to learn how to navigate rooms I was never invited into.
But I stayed consistent. I developed structure, leaned into personal development, and surrounded myself with mentors. I made it my mission to turn my setbacks into setups for others. Every challenge taught me something—about resilience, grace, and what it really means to lead from experience, not just theory.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about How To Battle LLC?
How To Battle (HTB) Consulting is a leadership firm and a transformation movement. We specialize in human-centered leadership development, mindset coaching, and organizational culture change, offering powerful programs for corporations, educational institutions, and nonprofits. Our work blends practical leadership strategy with lived experience, which sets us apart in a field often dominated by theory and surface-level solutions.
What makes us different is that every member of our team has lived through deep personal transformation. We’re not just consultants, we’re mentors who’ve faced adversity head-on and emerged with wisdom that can’t be taught in a textbook.
Whether it’s helping a company improve retention and engagement, guiding executives to lead with empathy and vision, or supporting youth through mentorship and purpose-driven learning, our impact is rooted in authenticity and results.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about our city is its resilience and diversity. There’s a raw beauty in how people from every walk of life are trying to make something of themselves here. Whether it’s youth trying to rise above their circumstances or entrepreneurs building something meaningful from nothing, this city has an undeniable spirit. I also love that I get to pour back into the same communities that once felt forgotten, mentoring young people, working with schools, and helping organizations build stronger leadership from the inside out.
What I like least is the level of disconnection. There’s so much potential here, but sometimes people are so busy surviving—or climbing—that they forget to see one another. We need more spaces where real conversations can happen, where vulnerability is valued, and where people are reminded that leadership isn’t about status, it’s about service. I’m doing everything I can to help bridge that gap.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.howtobattle.com
- Instagram: @carlosvasquezofficial and @howtobattle
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howtobattle/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@howtobattle
- Other: https://open.substack.com/pub/carlosvasquezofficial
