Building Beyond Business: Leadership, Learning, and Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Jonathan Hinton's entrepreneurial spirit ignited early—as a fifth grader reselling school supplies for a profit, he was already laying the groundwork for a future filled with bold ventures. Today, he's the co-founder and CEO of Polarworx, Inc., a company specializing in HVAC and refrigeration upgrades across the U.S. His journey from a young entrepreneur to founding multiple companies with combined revenues exceeding $1 billion is a testament to his relentless drive and passion for business.

By the time Hinton, EMBA ‘15, enrolled in the MIT Executive MBA at age 31, he had already achieved considerable success as the President and CEO of Apex Controls, an industry leader in energy controls systems. Yet, he sought more than just financial growth—he wanted to expand his network, challenge himself intellectually, and gain a broader perspective on leadership and innovation. 

You were already a successful entrepreneur when you started the EMBA program. Why, then, an MBA, and why MIT Sloan?

When considering an MBA, I knew I wasn't trying to be a finance specialist. I was in my early 30s, I had already built a successful business, but I felt there were gaps I needed to fill. The primary motivator was the network—I wanted to connect with people who were ambitious, diverse, and from different industries and countries. MIT stood out because of its entrepreneurial reputation. I didn’t want an MBA to climb the corporate ladder; I wanted one that would fuel my entrepreneurial ventures. The global cohort, the program’s flexibility, and MIT’s brand made it an easy choice.

Beyond expanding my network, I was curious about the level of academic rigor at a top institution like MIT compared to my undergraduate experience. I wanted to see how world-class faculty approached business problems, and I was particularly interested in courses that dealt with leadership, decision-making, and behavioral psychology—areas I hadn’t explored deeply before.

Can you share some classes or professors that had a lasting impact on you?

Roberto Fernandez’s class on organizational behavior wasn’t just about business theories; it was like taking a psychology class focused on how people think, behave, and interact in organizations. One exercise he did involved showing us a video where we had to count basketball bounces, and most of us completely missed a person in a gorilla suit walking through the scene. The lesson was clear: when you're hyper-focused, you can miss obvious things—a metaphor that applies directly to leadership and decision-making.

That gorilla video exercise fundamentally changed how I approach problem-solving. I make a conscious effort to step back, consider alternative perspectives, and ensure I'm not missing critical information because I'm too focused on one aspect of a situation.

Another standout was Roberto Rigobón. His energy and teaching style made complex economic concepts engaging and relatable. He had a way of making you rethink assumptions and question conventional wisdom, which really broadened my perspective on global markets and decision-making.

Then there was Simon Johnson, who just won the Nobel Prize. His insights on global economics and the power of currency post-World War II were eye-opening. His analysis of how the U.S. dollar became a strategic asset shifted how I view economic systems and even influenced some of my investment strategies. Knowing I had the opportunity to learn directly from a Nobel laureate adds an extra layer of appreciation for the depth of knowledge the EMBA program provided.

How does your work align with MIT Sloan's mission to improve the world?

I believe in creating opportunities and fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs. After selling one of my companies, I started the Jonathan and Kora Hinton Foundation and the Hinton Youth Entrepreneurship Award, which provides $10,000 scholarships to high school students who are actively running businesses. It’s not about rewarding ideas; it’s about supporting kids who are already taking risks, learning by doing, and creating real value. That aligns with MIT’s mission to develop principled, innovative leaders who make a difference.

Each of the eight high schools in Forsyth County, Georgia, has a $10,000 winner annually and we are working on greatly expanding the program in Georgia. One standout story is of a student who, before even having a driver's license, ran a successful robotics tutoring business online, earning $100,000 a year. He used our scholarship to lease a commercial space, and now, at 16, he’s doubling his revenue, projecting $200,000 annually. It’s incredible to see how the award can amplify these young leaders' potential.

Launching my family foundation and this award is personal for me. I was a high school entrepreneur. I wasn’t the top of my class academically because I was working 40-50 hours a week running my own business. Traditional metrics like GPA and SAT scores often overlook kids with entrepreneurial grit. I wanted to create something that recognizes those students—kids who might not fit the traditional mold but have the ambition and drive to succeed in business and beyond.

How do you define success now compared to when you started the EMBA program?

Success used to be all about economic achievement for me. But after reaching certain financial milestones, I realized that fulfillment doesn’t come from the end goal—it’s in the journey. Now, I define success as the pursuit itself: the challenges, the growth, and the people I meet along the way. It’s about continuously pushing boundaries, not just in business but in life. The EMBA program helped me see that success isn’t static; it’s a dynamic process of learning and evolving.