Featured Events
April 15th, 2026: WACC Global Business Series with the Honorable Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State – “Local Roots, Global Reach: Driving Economic Growth Through International Partnerships”
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte will host North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall on April 15 for a timely conversation on how international partnerships are fueling record-setting economic growth across the state. Secretary Marshall will discuss the role of foreign direct investment, global business relationships, and international engagement in strengthening North Carolina’s economy, creating jobs, and positioning communities across the state for long-term success.
April 14th, 2026: WACC Private Dinner with the Honorable Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte will host an exclusive private dinner with the Honorable Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 for a conversation on the role of foreign direct investments, global business, and international engagement in shaping North Carolina’s economic future. Guests will hear directly from Secretary Marshall and have the opportunity to ask questions during a discussion on how global connections continues to drive economic growth and opportunity across the state.
March 31st, 2026: WACC Partner Program with James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations – “The Best & Worst: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy”
James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, reveals his definitive rankings of the best—and worst—U.S. foreign policy decisions over the past 250 years. Join us on March 31 for WorldNow with Jim Falk as we examine these pivotal moments, their lasting impact at home and abroad, and what they mean for the future of American foreign policy in the century ahead.
March 12th, 2026: WACC National Security Series with General (Ret.) Paul Nakasone, U.S. Army Four-Star General, Former Director of the National Security Agency, Founding Director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security, and Former 3rd Commander of the United States Cyber Command
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is honored to welcome General Paul M. Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army four-star general and one of the nation’s foremost leaders in cybersecurity and national defense, as a featured speaker in the WACC National Security Series on March 12, 2026. From 2018 to 2024, he led U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, overseeing national cyber defense, global intelligence operations, and the protection of critical infrastructure during a period of escalating cyber threats. Drawing on more than 30 years of military leadership, including combat deployments, General Nakasone will examine the global cyber threat landscape, the role of artificial intelligence and state-sponsored attacks, vulnerabilities facing governments and the private sector, and how cyber operations are reshaping modern conflict and national security. Now the Founding Director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security, he brings unparalleled insight into the future of cyber defense and global security.
Video Highlights
WACC in the News
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Foreign Adversaries Sow Division in Local Communities, Including North Carolina, Report Says Listen Now
Roll Call: An Election That’s Bigger Than One Country. Read Now
City of Charlotte: Mayor Lyles To Present 26th Mayor’s International Community Awards Read Now
Charlotte Observer: It’s Time to Meet Your Neighbor Across the World, says Rick Steves. It Starts with Travel. Read Now
Charlotte Ledger: Rick Steves is Traveling with a Mission. Read More
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): Getting to Know Travel Extraordinaire Rick Steves. Listen Now
Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins (WFAE): A Conversation with Fiona Hill — Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and the White House’s former top Russia adviser. Listen Now
Atrium Health: Dr. Derek Raghavan Reflects on Upcoming Retirement. Read Now
FOX 46 Charlotte: Retired Lieutenant General in Charlotte Gives Insight Into Russia-Ukraine War. Watch Now (YouTube)
WFAE: Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins — Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General US Army Europe and Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Listen Now
WFAE: Delays Push Carolina Theatre Project To 2022, Hotel Coming Later. Read More
Charlotte Business Journal: Top Execs at Atrium Health, Wake Forest Discuss Why the Combination Made Sense. Read More
Charlotte Business Journal: President of Truist Financial Emphasizes Focus on Community Impact, Innovation at Charlotte Luncheon. Read More
WFAE: The President’s Finger Is The Only One On ‘The Button.’ Listen Now
WFAE: Charlotte MLS Team President Talks Atlanta Rivalry, Big Tepper Sports Plans. Read More