On Character: An Executive Leadership Dialogue with General Stanley McChrystal

An exclusive executive leadership experience featuring General Stanley McChrystal  

Step into an extraordinary gathering where the World Affairs Council of Atlanta brings together senior executives and influential leaders for an intimate fireside conversation with General Stanley McChrystal. Known for commanding numerous elite military organizations, McChrystal will share insights from his new book, On Character: Choices that Define a Life—a powerful exploration of the values and decision‑making frameworks that shape high‑performance leadership.  

In a period of fast change and increasing pressure on leaders in every field, this program offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on values, responsibility, and the principles that guide effective leadership. Drawing on military experience, history, philosophy, and personal reflection, McChrystal invites readers to think deeply about who they are becoming through their decisions, especially when no one is watching. 

Attendees will leave with thought‑provoking ideas on: 

• The role of character in shaping effective leadership—how values translate into decisions, behaviors, and long‑term impact. 

• Building trust in an era of uncertainty, and why credibility is a leader’s most valuable asset. 

• Navigating ethical dilemmas with clarity, discipline, and personal responsibility. 

• Developing resilience—individually and organizationally—in the face of complexity, pressure, and rapid change. 

• How small choices accumulate into a leader’s legacy, and why everyday habits matter as much as major milestones. 

• Cultivating high‑performing teams grounded in accountability, transparency, and shared mission. 

• Leading with humility and self‑awareness, even amid authority and influence. 

Why Sponsor? 

• Exclusive opportunity to attend a private reception with Gen. Stanley McChrystal 

• Engage clients, executives, board directors, and stakeholders in a unique, high‑touch experience 

• Reach a premier audience of regional and national leaders 

• Align your brand with trusted, high‑integrity leadership 

Presenting Sponsor – $10,000 

Exclusive • Premier Visibility 

• Exclusive “Presented by” naming on all event materials 

• Exclusive opportunity to make podium remarks 

• Twelve (12) VIP seats with premier placement 

• Twelve (12) invitations to the private reception with Gen. McChrystal 

• Prominent logo placement on signage, printed program & digital promotions 

Sponsor $1,500 

• Six (6) VIP seats with premier placement 

• Two (2) invitations to the private reception with Gen. McChrystal 

• Logo recognition on event signage & printed program 

• Recognition in event communications 

VIP Package - $500 

• Two (2) VIP seats with premier placement 

About Stanely McChrystal 

A retired four-star general, Stanley McChrystal commanded numerous elite organizations, including the 75th Ranger Regiment, the US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan, and the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a cohesive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture. 

After 9/11 until his retirement in 2010, he spent more than 6 years deployed to combat in a variety of leadership positions. In June 2009, the President of the United States and the Secretary General of NATO appointed him to be the Commander of US Forces Afghanistan and NATO ISAF. His command included more than 150,000 troops from forty-five allied countries. On August 1, 2010, he retired from the US Army. 

In 2013, McChrystal published his memoir, My Share of the Task, which was a New York Times bestseller; and is an author of, Team of

Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, which was a New York Times bestseller in 2015. His latest book, On Character, was an instant New York Times bestseller. He previously served as a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he also taught a course on Leadership. He is a sought-after speaker, giving speeches on leadership and team dynamics to organizations around the globe. 

McChrystal is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Naval War College. He also completed year-long fellowships at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Council on Foreign Relations.