The Cavinder Twins and Raising Cane's CEO on Success
Todd Graves, founder and CEO of Raising Cane's, and Hanna and Haley Cavinder, NIL trailblazers and entrepreneurs, discuss the passion and drive it takes to succeed in business on the new episode of "The Playbook."
"I don't think entrepreneurs are created — entrepreneurs are born."
So says Todd Graves, the billionaire founder and CEO of Raising Cane's, the chicken finger casual dining chain with over 900 restaurants nationwide.
Graves joined twin sisters Hanna and Haley Cavinder, former University of Miami basketball players who became trailblazers in the NIL space, to talk about the drive it takes to succeed in business on a new episode of The Playbook.
On each episode of The Playbook, produced by Sports Illustrated and Entrepreneur, athletes and entrepreneurs come together to share advice and lessons they've learned along their paths to greatness.
Related: 'Hustle Like You're Broke': Michael Strahan Shares the Mindset That Drives His Success
Although their businesses might vary greatly — Graves runs a restaurant empire while Hanna and Haley are influencers who created the TWOgether fitness app and co-founded Hustle Beauty for athletes — there is crossover in how they pursue their passions.
It starts with showing up like an athlete. "It was very seamless when we got into the NIL space and then started our own business," Hanna says. "All of those traits from college athletics carried over. The discipline and routine and the commitment to give 100% because there are other people relying on you."
Graves feels the same way. "You might be tired one day, but people show up to our restaurants and are willing to pay good money, so you've got to deliver."
Graves, Hanna and Haley also believe in the power of connecting with customers through authenticity. "People love founder-driven businesses because a founder cares, and their business is an extension of them," Graves says. Haley adds that being positive and honest on social media has been the key to nurturing their community of millions. "That really helped us when we started the health and fitness side of things," she says. Putting out genuine content that spoke about mental health helped them build lasting relationships with their followers, and they say the feedback they've gotten keeps them fulfilled and eager to do more.
Related: "You Have to Grow Up Fast": How This College Athlete Became a CEO Before Turning 18
Watch the entire conversation to get these amazing entrepreneurs' insights on how getting a "no" can be the best thing to fuel your drive, and learn the pivotal moments that showed them that they were on the right path. As Graves notes, "Champions are always thinking, Hey, what can we do next?"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
31 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Darden Weighs Sale of Bahama Breeze Restaurant Chain
Darden Restaurants Inc. is considering 'strategic alternatives' for its Bahama Breeze chain, Chief Executive Officer Rick Cardenas said. Potential plans for the chain include selling the brand or converting the restaurants to other Darden brands, Cardenas said on an earnings call Friday.
Wall Street Journal
31 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Fed's Waller Suggests Central Bank Could Cut Rates in July
Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said the central bank could be positioned to cut interest rates at its July meeting, notwithstanding potential inflation pressures from tariffs. 'I think we've got room to bring it down, and then we can kind of see what happens with inflation,' Waller told CNBC, saying the Fed should "look through" one-time price rises fueled by levies. 🔎 Read more:
Bloomberg
38 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Bloomberg Surveillance: Israel, Markets, Supply Chains
Watch Tom and Paul LIVE every day on YouTube: Bloomberg Surveillance hosted by Tom Keene & Paul Sweeney June 20th, 2025 Featuring: 1) Dan Williams, Bloomberg News reporter, on President Donald Trump signaling he would give diplomacy a chance before deciding whether to strike Iran, dialing back on recent comments that suggested military action could be imminent. 2) David Katz, President and CIO of Matrix Asset Advisors, on why he is hopeful there will be some clarity in the current conflict in the upcoming months. After that, however, we will then return to the week to week and month to month uncertainties with Tariff and the current tax and spending bill that's making its way through congress. 3) Alisa Rusanoff, CEO at Eltech, on what risks lender are currently facing in the shipping space. 4) Lisa Mateo joins with the latest headlines in newspapers across the US, including a WSJ story on how side hustles nowadays are more about necessity than a passion. Plus, a Bloomberg report about Capital One's New JFK Lounge Makes a Play for Premium Travelers
