Story & Lesson Highlights with Carlos Wallace of Fulshear, Texas

Carlos Wallace shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Carlos, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts early with prayer, reflection, and gratitude. Most mornings, I get a text from my boy Q updating me on the latest moves in tech or business, and a few stocks I need to keep an eye on. I have always believed that how you start your day determines how it flows. From there, my time is divided between business and service, whether that means meetings for VR Eval, the Development and Philanthropy Board for the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences at PVAMU, Sol-Caritas, the Culture Keepers Circle, the City of Fulshear, or Wallace Legacy Investments. Some days are spent mentoring young professionals or working on creative projects through Sol-Vision. I also make sure all of my social media platforms are up to date so my audience can stay informed and engaged with the work we are doing. I always set aside time to read, write, and stay connected with the people who keep me grounded. No matter how busy things get, I end each day with peace, purpose, and gratitude, knowing that success only matters when it lifts others too.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carlos Wallace. I am the President and CEO of Sol-Caritas LLC, a company founded on the belief that entertainment can serve as a bridge to education, service, and cultural connection. For nearly two decades, Sol-Caritas has produced live events, films, and community initiatives that celebrate creativity while giving back to those in need. What makes our work unique is that every project has a purpose woven into it, whether that means supporting local artists, funding scholarships, or raising awareness about issues that impact our communities.

Beyond Sol-Caritas, I lead Wallace Legacy Investments, a firm dedicated to financial discipline and generational wealth. I serve as Chairman of the Development and Philanthropy Board for the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences at Prairie View A&M University. I am also proud to serve on the Board of Advisers for the Culture Keepers Circle and as Co-Founder of VR Eval, a platform where we are using technology for good in helping survivors of trauma.

In addition to these roles, I serve on the City of Fulshear Development Corporation (Type A), where I work to promote responsible growth, small business development, and community engagement. This position allows me to stay connected to the people and places that shape the future of our city.

Right now, I am focused on expanding Sol-Vision, our film division, and continuing to create powerful, true-to-life stories that inspire empathy and transformation. Everything I do connects back to one goal: building legacy through purpose.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When my classmates think back to the fourth grade, they probably remember chalkboards, class trips, and the occasional pop quiz that ruined their afternoon. I remember those things too, but my most vivid memory from that time is the day I was voted President of Junior Historians. I had worked hard to earn the respect of my teachers and peers, and for the first time, they saw me as a leader. I was proud, and my mother was overjoyed. She made sure I looked my best for the local newspaper photo. My slacks were pressed with a perfect crease, my shoes shined, my hair brushed, and my white dress shirt crisp and clean. I showed up sharp, chest out, head high, and proud of what I had accomplished.

But when the photo was printed, the pride turned to pain. The picture was black and white, and in that contrast, my dark skin faded almost completely from the image. My face was barely visible. What should have been one of the proudest moments of my young life became one of the most humiliating. The teasing from classmates was cruel, and for the first time, I became fully aware of the darkness of my skin through the eyes of others.

It only took one stern conversation from my momma to rebuild the confidence that moment tried to destroy. She looked at me and said, “You’re darker because you are better. You are the most important person in every room you walk into.” I never forgot that. All these years later, I still believe it.

That experience taught me a lesson I still carry today. We all have moments that shake us, that force us to look at who we are and what we stand for. What matters most is that we keep standing. We survive, we grow, and we use those experiences to become better, more compassionate versions of ourselves.

I went on to serve in many leadership roles throughout my school years, including Student Council President, President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Choir President, and Class President. Each position helped shape the man I would become. Do I wish that early experience had not been so painful? Of course. Do I regret it? Not at all. It made me a stronger, more empathetic leader, someone who can look at another person’s pain and say, I have been there, and you will be fine.

As Nietzsche wrote, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” I believe that with every breath I take. As long as you are still breathing, you have everything you need to rise again.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I learned that suffering exposes the truth about who you are and what you value. I will never forget one of the most painful experiences in my promotion/production career. I had organized a comedy show in Tyler, Texas that I believed would be a major success. I put my heart, time, and money into it. I promoted the event, trusted the wrong people, and expected a packed house. Instead, the turnout was small, the energy was off, and financially it was a complete loss, about one hundred thousand dollars.

That night humbled me in ways success never could. I remember standing in the back of the Oil Palace watching the show unfold, feeling embarrassed, frustrated, and defeated. But when I stepped back, I realized that failure had given me something success rarely gives: clarity. I learned who truly supported me, who disappeared when things got tough, and who I could count on when the lights went out.

Suffering stripped away the illusion that passion alone guarantees progress. It taught me that resilience, patience, and humility are the real currency of success. That experience in Tyler forced me to grow both as a businessman and as a man. I learned to listen more, plan better, and move with faith instead of ego.

When everything goes right, you celebrate. But when everything falls apart, you learn. That night in Tyler taught me how to rebuild from the ground up with character, not just confidence.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is real, but it is not the entire story. What people see is the polished version, the man who speaks, leads, and creates. That part of me was built through years of lessons, discipline, and growth. But behind that man is someone who has failed, prayed, cried, and rebuilt more times than most will ever know.

I do not perform when I show up in public. I show up with purpose. The private version of me is quieter, more reflective, and focused on peace. The public version carries the responsibility of leadership and representation, so I try to bring strength and steadiness into every space I enter.

What I have learned is that authenticity is not about sharing everything. It is about being the same in spirit wherever you are, whether in the boardroom, on stage, at home, or alone in silence. So yes, the man people see is real. But the man they do not see is the reason that version exists.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
This one is easy. Since 2015, when I retired from Union Pacific Railroad after more than twenty years of service, I have only worked for others when it was by choice. Everything I do now is rooted in purpose, not obligation. I spent years learning discipline, leadership, and accountability through that career, but my true calling began when I stepped out on faith and built Sol-Caritas. That was when I stopped doing what I was told to do and started doing what I was born to do, create, serve, and lead in a way that inspires others to believe they can too.

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