Qodeo’s Stephen Fusi and Simon Glass met with Durham North Carolina’s recently re-elected Mayor Leonardo Williams. Mayor Williams is a graduate of historically black college & university (HBCU) North Carolina Central University. Where Qodeo’s Stephen Fusi also serves at Chief Brand Officer.

Mayor Williams worked as a school teacher and school administrator. He was twice recognized by Durham Public Schools as teacher of the year and was recognized by Triangle Business Journal as one of their “40 under 40” for innovative practices in education. Williams and his wife, Zwelibanzi Moyo Williams opened Zweli’s in 2018, a Zimbabwean restaurant in Durham named after his wife. The restaurant is the first full-service Zimbabwean restaurant in the United States.[3] The couple later opened Ekhaya in the American Tobacco Campus in 2022, serving Bantu inspired tapas.

He won the 2023 Durham Mayoral election in 2023 and assumed office on December 4. He is one of the youngest mayors in Durham’s history. He received endorsements from the People’s Alliance, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, and Friends of Durham PACs.

Qodeo is delighted to have Mayor Williams join Qodeo, other panelists and attendees at Qodeo’s Durham Democratizing Venture Summit in Spring 2026. Discussing how to improve access to private capital, especially for black and older entrepreneurs.