Part I: The Case Study
Sezzle, a Public Benefits Corporation, is a rapidly growing fintech company on a mission to financially
empower the next generation. Sezzle’s payment platform increases the purchasing power for consumers
by offering interest-free installment plans at online stores and select in-store locations. Sezzle’s
transparent, inclusive, and seamless payment option allows consumers to take control over their
spending, be more responsible, and gain access to financial freedom. When consumers apply, approval is
instant, and their credit scores are not impacted, unless the consumer elects to opt-in to a credit-building
feature, called Sezzle Up.
There has been a rise in the buy-now, wear-now, pay-later (BNPL) tech-enabled business model where
shoppers can take home their purchases immediately, while paying for the total purchase price in
installments. See image below on how it works.
Sezzle.com/media assets: How It Works
Sezzle allows the customer to take the product with them at the point of transaction while paying for the
product over time, with zero interest. E-commerce goods are sent at the transaction point when the
customer completes the purchase and pays the first installment. Future installments are paid over time
until the full purchase price has been made.
The BNPL market has been mostly centered on e-commerce business models and Sezzle receives most of
its total revenue from e-commerce retailers. The case study goal for this course is to provide solutions as
to how Sezzle can expand the market into brick-and-mortar retailers and appeal to the physical store
shoppers and how the company can further expand internationally.
Students will need to apply course concepts learned in the leadership course and critical thinking to
provide solution on market expansion in U.S. brick-and-mortar retailers and identify a plan for global
expansion.
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FASHION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FM 361 Leadership Development for Retailing Created by Professor: S.E. Kohan
Final Project: Industry Case Study
2
Sezzle.com/media assets: Demonstrates how easy it is for shoppers to sign up for Sezzle
Part II: Supporting Documentation for Case Study
Watch Video-Interview the CEO including an overview BNPL market, about Sezzle, current challenges and Q&A with
FIT students available in Blackboard).
Read Coresight Research Report, (September 2019) The Rise of Buy Now, Pay Later Payment Services (in Blackboard)
Read Worth, (July 2020), An Inside Look at the US Fintech Company With Its Finger on the Pulse of Gen Z,
https://www.worth.com/an-inside-look-at-the-us-fintech-company-with-its-finger-on-the-pulse-of-gen-z/
Sezzle and FIT PPT (available in Blackboard)
Sezzle 4Q 2020 Financial Results-Press Release
https://d34uoa9py2cgca.cloudfront.net/sezzle-credit-website-assets/investors-page/szl-announcements/RecordFourth-Quarter-Results-11-01-2021.pdf
Sezzle 2020 Financial Results-Presentation
https://asx.api.markitdigital.com/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02347237-
2A1283548?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4
Part III: Written Assignment
Complete a written report that includes all of the elements below. Each section should be clearly labeled
with the header as noted below. Diagrams and visuals should be included in the written report. Students
should be integrating course concepts and terminology into the written assessment, but heavy emphasis
will be on demonstrating critical thinking and substantiated external research.
Leadership Decisions and Characteristics
Based on what you learned about Sezzle in Part II and applying learnings from class, discuss how the
decision to become a Public Benefit Corporation could be beneficial for both employees and customers.
Describe the leadership at Sezzle and what leadership style would be most similar to the CEO of Sezzle.
Discuss the company’s position on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) based on the interview with the
CEO, the supplemental material in Part II and other external information researched.
The Organizational Environment
Discuss the internal environment including culture, technology and intellectual capital. Examine what
external factors should be considered for a model like Sezzle. Discuss the six forces of the general
environment and how each one impacts Sezzle.
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FASHION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FM 361 Leadership Development for Retailing Created by Professor: S.E. Kohan
Final Project: Industry Case Study
3
Triple Bottom Line and a Stakeholder Approach
Identify possible stakeholders in the Sezzle environment by using a diagram or visual and discuss how a
stakeholder approach can be beneficial to Sezzle. Discuss the Triple Bottom Line and how Sezzle
contributes to this approach to business.
Globalization
Examine through the PESTLE analysis, Sezzle’s ability to broaden its global reach. Discuss what Worldwide
Events may impact Sezzle’s growth into international expansion on a larger scale. When expanding
internationally, which Global Human Resource Management Approach would be recommended based on
Sezzle’s business model and target customer.
Key Take-Away #1: Based on the research from the assignment, discuss how Sezzle can further its
international expansion. Explain why Sezzle should choose a particular country or a particular international
expansion approach explaining economic, sociological, demographic reasons to support the
recommendation. External sources and substantiated research must be conducted and properly cited.
Strategic Management
Create a SWOT analysis for Sezzle and use a diagram to illustrate the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats. Using the Five Forces Framework, identify the factors at Sezzle that contribute
to the Five Forces and use a diagram to illustrate the forces.
Key Take-Aways #2: Based on the research from the assignment, discuss how Sezzle can best implement
a strategy that allows the company to compete in the brick-and-mortar environment. What specific
strategies could be implemented to successfully launch in the U.S. physical store markets. External
sources and substantiated research must be conducted and properly cited.
