Meet Kendall Feighan ’26, a CIA master’s in Food Business student, baker, and founder of Just Chippy’s, a cookie catering company based in White Plains, NY.
Kendall’s journey into the culinary world began at just nine years old. Every weekend for six years, she and her grandparents made homemade treats and salsa to sell at their farmstand, Scrappy’s. “My journey has always been about bringing people joy through food,” Kendall reminisced. Her grandparents encouraged her entrepreneurial spirit and helped her see what it meant to build something that brought the community together.
As she got older, Kendall’s passions expanded. While playing soccer at Virginia Tech, she began exploring criminology and, during her sophomore year, was accepted into the FBI internship program. “Ultimately, it just was not what I wanted to do long term. I found myself always thinking about food when I was at my desk and my love for baking.”
Even during her time at the FBI, the seed for a cookie business remained. “This cookie dream thing that I’m starting right now has been in the back of my head ever since I was very, very little.” Recently, her mother found a first-grade worksheet in which Kendall had written that she was going to be a baker. “I’ve always had a passion specifically for my cookies, but I was like, okay, but how? How good really are the cookies? Can I solely do cookies? I wanted to have a better understanding of what goes into owning your own company and the whole culinary world.”
Timing is Everything
As any good investigator would, Kendall began researching master’s programs. She wanted something flexible, remote, under two years, and centered on food entrepreneurship. “Obviously CIA, with the great reputation that they have, I looked into some of their programs, and I came across the master’s in Food Business. I gave [them] a call, and they told me that the application was closing in five days. I was like, okay, this is my sign. I could have waited to call five days later, but I had enough time to be able to get everything together… I’m ready to go pursue what I really am passionate about.”
CIA’s Food Business program exceeded her expectations. With each course, Kendall gained both the confidence and clarity to believe in her product—and to believe that it could, in fact, just be cookies. She began putting what she learned directly into action. “It’s been really cool to be able to know what it takes to do something like this.” Thus began her budding business: Just Chippy’s.
Through her coursework, Kendall has been able to immediately apply the spreadsheets, systems, and planning strategies she’s learning. The program is equipping her not only with tools for launching a business but also for building a sustainable one.
“The program has taught me so much and is really help me move forward in a positive way.”
Residencies and Inspiration
During the residency in Napa Valley, Kendall and her cohort visited local farms to connect more deeply with the supply chain and product evolution. “One of the big focuses of the program is not only the business aspect, but also on the sustainability aspect. So, creating a cookie [and] creating a brand that focuses on sustainability, local sourcing, no preservatives, using all clean ingredients and then incorporating a lot of fresh fruit into my cookies.”
In addition to evolving her sourcing and production methods, the program gave Kendall something even more impactful—a community of like-minded peers. “I was in awe the entire time…I would say that when we went out there to Napa, CA, it was a very life changing moment for me.”
Students often speak of the strong connections they make with their cohorts, despite the program being largely online. Classmates range in age, background, and industry experience, and provide support, feedback, and camaraderie throughout the journey. Kendall shared, “Just getting to know my classmates and sharing those meals, the love for food and being able to bond over that is something very, very memorable.” It’s a uniquely inspiring space where everyone is working toward their dreams within the same field.
Mastering Her Business and Education
When asked what advice she’d offer to someone curious about the program, Kendall responded, “You just have to take advantage of the resources and you get out of it what you put into it. It is an online program, and I think that can be challenging for some people, but doing extra readings, doing research on your own and really thinking of how you want to finish the program.” Her most practical tip? Build a routine. Though her days vary, Kendall usually starts with a workout, then focuses on upcoming events, online orders, or recipe testing—whatever is needed for the business to succeed.
Kendall dove in with both feet, and the momentum she’s gained already shows how powerful hard work, a master’s in Food Business, and a supportive cohort can be. As she modestly put it: “I did not expect the business to take off or go as well as it has from the very beginning, which is definitely something to celebrate.” Every day, Kendall is fulfilling online orders, catering events, and selling out at farmer’s markets! All of this with the support of her grandparents—who helped her with her farm stand—from everything from cookies to merch!
Are you ready to start your own business? Learn more about CIA’s master’s in Food Business.
Learn more about CIA’s Food Business master’s degree.
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