Event Recaps

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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