In 1993, San Francisco native Malik Wade was placed on the FBI's most wanted list. He then spent seven years on the run before spending more than a decade in prison. When he was released in July 2012, Wade was 41 years old and ready to turn his life around.

According to Black Enterprise, Wade grew up in the '80s in a low-income neighborhood in San Francisco. While he was a good student and had a lot of potential as an athlete, his life took a drastic turn when he started selling drugs.

“I started selling drugs at 15 and by the time I graduated from high school, I was already being investigated by the FBI,” Wade told Black Enterprise. “At the age of 21, I was actually indicted by the FBI and they were seeking a life sentence, so I fled the country … and I remained a fugitive for the next several years.”

Wade was arrested at the age of 29, and he immediately pleaded guilty because he knew he was facing a life sentence. Wade was sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and gun possession. But according to Wade, going to prison completely changed his perspective on life. He spent his time in prison educating himself and changing his thought process.

While doing time for the next 12 years, Wade said he started to learn and grow, and he is grateful for the mentorship he received from other men in prison.

“As human beings, I think we can all be redeemed in the eyes of The Most High,” he said. “If a young person committed a heinous crime at the age of 14 or 15, and they spent the last 25–30 years in prison, they’re not the same person. A person can redeem themself. A person can transform themself.”

After his release in 2012, Wade wasted no time in applying what he'd learned from his situation to giving back to his community. He became a guest lecturer in UC Berkeley's African American Studies Department and Criminal Justice Department in 2013, and he was accepted into Stanford Law School's  Project ReMADE program — which provides ex-felons with resources and training to become business owners.

Wade also started a nonprofit organization that focuses on uplifting and mentoring at-risk youth. While he had never had a regular job before, Wade took a chance and launched his own company — Malik Wade Ventures, LLC — which includes a publishing and consulting business. Wade explained that he basically repurposed what he learned on the streets to his legitimate business and nonprofit efforts.

“In the drug game, I learned how to do a SWOT analysis, which is to analyze your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats," he said.

After being released, Wade took his potential to new heights and has made a huge impact on others in his community. On top of these accomplishments, Wade is also sharing his story and life lessons in his new memoir, Pressure: From FBI Fugitive to Freedom.