top of page
All Posts
Council Leaders Join Opening of Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center
Published: June 1, 2026 On May 21, 2026 World Affairs Council of Atlanta President Rickey Bevington and Director Jackie Davis attended the opening of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, marking a significant milestone for both U.S. Soccer and the state’s growing role in international sports. The state-of-the-art complex is the first-ever dedicated home of the U.S. Soccer Federation and is expected to serve as a hub for athletic e
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
10 hours ago1 min read
Strength or Fragility? What China’s Future Means for the World
Published: May 27, 2026 The World Affairs Council of Atlanta recently hosted a timely conversation examining one of the defining geopolitical questions of our time: Is China entering an era of enduring strength, or are deeper structural vulnerabilities beginning to emerge? In the virtual program Strength or Fragility: What China’s Future Means for the World, Council President Rickey Bevington spoke with Kerr Gibbs, Executive in Residence with the China Business Studies Initi
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
May 273 min read
Governance & Policy Master Class Recap: Leadership, Trust, and Institutional Accountability
Published: May 26, 2026 On Friday, May 15, 2026, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta convened it's last Master Class of the year on Governance & Policy. Hosted at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the setting itself reinforced many of the day’s central themes. As one of the nation’s key financial institutions, the Federal Reserve operates at the intersection of governance, policy, public trust, and economic stability — making it an especially fitting environment for conve
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
May 263 min read
Courtroom to Concert Hall: Closing Out Hamburg
Published: May 11, 2026 his article marks the fifth and final installment in a multi‑part series recapping each day of the 2026 Global Leadership Fellows' recent International Immersion to Hamburg and Berlin, Germany. Launched in 2025, the Global Leadership Fellows Program is the flagship leadership development initiative of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, designed to prepare early‑ to mid‑career professionals to lead with global perspective. Friday, March 27, brought
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
May 113 min read
The World Cup in Atlanta: A Conversation with U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson
Published: May 7th, 2026 As Atlanta prepares to take center stage for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta convened a fireside chat with JT Batson, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation, to examine what that moment represents—for the city, for American soccer, and for the global future of the sport. Council President Rickey Bevington led a wide‑ranging conversation that framed the World Cup not as a standalone event, but as part
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
May 75 min read
Apprentices, Harbors, and Miniature Worlds: Hamburg, Germany
Published: May 4, 2026 This article marks the fourth in a multi‑part series recapping each day of the 2026 Global Leadership Fellows’ recent International Immersion to Hamburg and Berlin, Germany. Launched in 2025, the Global Leadership Fellows Program is the flagship leadership development initiative of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, designed to prepare early‑ to mid‑career professionals to lead with global perspective. Wednesday began at the Joachim Herz Stiftung,
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
May 42 min read
On Character: A Conversation with General Stanley McChrystal
Published: April 13, 2026 At a time when leadership is increasingly scrutinized and public trust increasingly fragile, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta convened a fireside chat with retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal about his new book “On Character: Choices That Define a Life.” Council President Rickey Bevington led a searching conversation about character—not as an aspiration, but as a lived discipline shaped by decisions made under pressure. From the opening
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Apr 285 min read
Is the Postwar Order Over? A Conversation with Ambassador David Satterfield
Published: April 08, 2026 At a time of mounting geopolitical uncertainty, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and Georgia Tech’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs convened a timely fireside chat titled “Strategic Challenges and Opportunities for the United States: Is the Post‑War Order Over?” Former Ambassador Lawrence Silverman led a wide‑ranging conversation with former Ambassador David Satterfield, probing whether the global system the United States helped build af
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Apr 165 min read
International Women’s Day: Leadership Lessons from a Life in Soccer
By: Jared Lenton Published: March 06, 2026 The World Affairs Council of Atlanta welcomed more than 300 members of Atlanta’s business, civic, and diplomatic communities on March 6 for its annual International Women’s Day celebration, presented by Bank of America with additional support from UPS . This year’s program, featuring two‑time FIFA World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Kelley O’Hara , was held at the Mercedes‑Benz Club at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium. Opening Rema
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Mar 243 min read
After Maduro: What's Next for Venezuela?
By: Jared Lenton Published: February 11, 2026 On February 11, students, Venezuelan community members and foreign policy professionals gathered at Georgia Tech’s Exhibition Hall for a compelling discussion on Venezuela’s ongoing socioeconomic and political crisis. The event featured retired U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, James Story as the keynote speaker, with retired Ambassador Charles Shapiro serving as the moderator, and World Affairs Council of Atlanta President, Rickey
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Feb 173 min read
Global Leadership Fellows Explore Geopolitics and Diplomacy at The Carter Center
By Jaidyn Gambrell Published: January 23, 2026 The Global Leadership Fellows (GLF) program cultivates globally minded leaders prepared to navigate complexity, build consensus, and lead with purpose. That mission came to life on January 23, 2026, when Fellows gathered at The Carter Center and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum for the Geopolitics & Diplomacy Master Class — an immersive day of expert insight, applied learning, and real-world perspective. As on
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Feb 122 min read
World Affairs Council of Atlanta Launches Speaker Events Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
Atlanta, GA — February 5, 2026 — The World Affairs Council of Atlanta today announced the launch of a multi‑event exploration of the global, economic, cultural, and leadership implications of Atlanta’s role as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Presented by Bank of America , the programs will convene leaders from business, sport, and civic life to examine how the world’s largest sporting event will shape the region’s future. Additional programs will be announced through
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Feb 53 min read
The World Cup in Atlanta: Unlocking Economic Opportunity in 2026 and Beyond
By: Jared Lenton Published: January 28, 2026 On January 27, 2026, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta convened 150+ global leaders for a dynamic breakfast discussion on the economic impact of The FIFA World Cup 26™. Hosted at The Loft, The Woodruff Arts Center’s newly opened space, the discussion highlighted Atlanta’s unique opportunity on the world stage. From boosting tourism and improving infrastructure to driving community development and attracting global investment, th
World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Feb 43 min read
bottom of page