Charlie Youakim - Buy Now, Pay Later, Build Forever | Leveraged Storytelling Episode 4

Charlie Youakim on Sezzle’s Mission, Midwest Hustle, and the Long Game of Fintech Leadership

In this episode of Leveraged Storytelling powered by Tunheim, I sit down with Charlie Youakim, co-founder and CEO of Sezzle — the fastest-growing company on the NASDAQ this year and a proud Minnesota fintech built on values as much as velocity. 

We dive into Sezzle’s core mission: helping the next generation of consumers build strong financial habits through its Buy Now, Pay Later platform — while simultaneously delivering the kind of performance Wall Street expects. Charlie shares how he’s managed to keep the company anchored in purpose while scaling aggressively in a competitive space. 

This episode is full of insights on leadership, perseverance, and the long-game mindset that defines Sezzle today — a breakout company many Minnesotans don’t yet realize is thriving right in their own backyard.