Private Dinner

Throughout the year WACC offers exclusive opportunities for small group discussion time with our renowned speakers, experts and foreign dignitaries at our Private Dinners.

Past private dinners include the following:

  • An Evening with Robert Walker, President of the Population Institute
  • An Evening with Col. Mark Mykleby, USMC, Ret., Senior Fellow, Smart Strategy Initiative at the New America Institute
  • An Evening with Russell Gold, Wall Street Journal journalist and author of “The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World”
  • An Evening with George Friedman, Founder and Chairman of Stratfor and author of “Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe”
  • An evening with Lyle Goldstein, Professor and Author of “Meeting China Halfway: How to Defuse the Emerging US-China Rivalry”
  • An Evening with Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, German Federal Minister of Defense (2009-2011); German Federal Minister of Economics & Technology (2009)
  • An evening with Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the U.S.
  • Private Dinner with Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director of Peace Corps
  • An evening with Matthew Bishop, Globalization Editor at The Economist 

privatedinner

Photo: An Evening with Adrian Wooldridge, Management Editor and ‘Schumpeter’ columnist for The Economist magazine

Private Dinner Events

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March 13, 2025: WACC Private Dinner with with Dr. Nina Ansary, Author, UN Women Global Champion for Innovation, and Director of the World Affairs Councils of America’s (WACA) Global Women’s Lecture Series

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for an intimate private dinner and discussion on Thursday, March13, 2025 with with Dr. Nina Ansary, Author, UN Women Global Champion for Innovation, and Director of the WACA Global Women’s Lecture Series of America Global Women's Lecture Series. Dr. Ansary will offer her perspective on the challenges faced by Iranian women on a daily basis, analyzing social, cultural, and legal obstacles they encounter. Gain valuable insights into their realities and the barriers they must overcome and learn more about actionable ways that the global community can contribute to their empowerment.

March 5, 2025: WACC Private Dinner with Charlotte Football Club’s General Manager Zoran Krneta & Head Coach Dean Smith

Join us for an exclusive, private dinner on March 5, 2025 featuring an intimate conversation with Charlotte FC’s top leaders, General Manager Zoran Krneta and Head Coach Dean Smith. This unique gathering offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the minds shaping the club’s future. In this off-the-record discussion, Krneta and Smith will share insider insights on team strategy, player development, and the club’s vision for 2025 as they prepare for a competitive season ahead.

February 24, 2025: An Evening with H.E. Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, the Ambassador of Luxembourg to the United States

Join us for an insightful evening as we explore the dynamic and evolving relationship between Luxembourg and the United States. Over dinner and conversation with Ambassador Bintner-Bakshian, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of Luxembourg's diplomatic priorities, its role in European and global affairs, and the ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S.-Luxembourg relations. This exclusive event offers a rare opportunity to engage with a seasoned diplomat, gain invaluable insights into international diplomacy, and participate in thoughtful dialogue about Luxembourg’s position in the world and its contributions to global cooperation.

November 11: An Evening with Major General (Ret.) Garrett Yee, Vice President and General Manager, Army and Defense Agencies Sector, Defense Division at General Dynamics

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte for an exclusive private dinner on November 11 with Major General (Ret.) Garrett Yee, Vice President and General Manager at General Dynamics Information Technology. Major General Yee will lead an insightful discussion on the critical intersection of technology and military operations, exploring how advancements in digital infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, and defense technologies are transforming modern warfare and global security strategies.