Jarrett Heflin

MIT, Sloan School of Management

“Former national team oarsman and founder specializing in early-stage businesses, brand strategy, and creative production.”

Hometown: Wayzata, Minnesota

Fun Fact About Yourself: Taught Colin Kaepernick to row as part of a CLIO-winning ad collaboration.

Undergraduate School and Major: Williams College, Class of 2020, History Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at Ergatta

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of MIT Sloan’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? MIT Sloan is a laboratory for the next generation of ideas. As an entrepreneur, I chose Sloan for its wide array of opportunities to explore new technologies and business ideas through incubators, accelerators, and workshops. Additionally, Sloan’s Entrepreneurship Lab offers real-world opportunities to work with founding teams of leading startups on strategically important projects.

Action Learning Labs are one of MIT Sloan’s biggest attractions. Which lab interests you most? How does it fit with your interests? MIT’s Entrepreneurship and Global Entrepreneurship Labs are a perfect match for putting practical applications to work in a real-world context with an amazing breadth of early-stage businesses across the United States and world.

When you think of MIT, what are the first things that come to mind? How have your experiences with the Sloan program thus far reinforced or upended these early impressions? When I think of MIT, the first things that come to mind are its entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation. This impression was reinforced when I attended a Delta V Demo Day in New York last summer, where I was amazed by the diverse range of startups and the scale of participation from the 2023 cohort. The experience solidified my view of MIT as a place where a low-ego, high-impact approach to entrepreneurship thrives.

What excites you about earning an MBA in the Boston area? Boston is a global academic and technological hub, yet it retains a vibrant college-town atmosphere. Having completed my undergraduate studies in 2020 and missing the closure of my final semester, I’m eager to return to an academic setting and connect with some of the brightest minds and future business leaders. I am also excited to introduce new friends from around the world to the beauty of weekend getaways in New England’s mountains.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? I bring a unique perspective shaped by hands-on experience with hundreds of real-life case studies. From building businesses from the ground up to scaling teams, managing hypergrowth, and navigating challenging times, I understand what it takes to sustain a business. Additionally, my skills as a brand marketer enable me to produce high-quality film shoots and marketing collateral on a budget, making any startup appear as polished as a larger enterprise.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was the first business hire at Ergatta and helped take the Seed-stage business to a $20 million run-rate within six months.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into MIT Sloan’s MBA program? Build a role around your passions and maintain it as your north star. Pursue the kind of work you want to do, or the field of work you desire, and your commitment, energy, and joy will drive success.

DON’T MISS: MEET MIT SLOAN’S MBA CLASS OF 2026