Dina Powell McCormick has built a career spanning Wall Street, government service, and nonprofit leadership over three decades. She’s currently vice chairman and president of global client services at BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank, after spending 16 years at Goldman Sachs.
Her name appears in discussions about corporate leadership, Middle East policy, and economic development programs. She served as Deputy National Security Advisor during the Trump administration and holds board positions at major organizations including serving as chairman of the Robin Hood Foundation.
Profile Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dina Habib Powell McCormick |
| Date of Birth | June 12, 1973 |
| Birthplace | Cairo, Egypt |
| Nationality | Egyptian-American |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BA); University of Texas School of Law (JD) |
| Profession | Financial Executive, Former Government Official |
| Known For | Senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and public service |
| Current Role | Vice Chairman & President, BDT & MSD Partners |
| Marital Status | Married to David McCormick (since 2019) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Background and Education
She was born Dina Habib in Cairo, Egypt, on June 12, 1973. Her family was middle-class Coptic Christian. Her father served as a captain in the Egyptian Army, and her mother had attended American University in Cairo.
Her parents brought her and her younger sister to the United States as children. She arrived knowing no English. The family settled in Dallas, Texas, where they had relatives within the Coptic community.
Her parents ran a convenience store. Her father also worked at times as a bus driver and in real estate, while her mother sometimes pursued social work. A third daughter was born after the family arrived in North America.
She learned English at school, but her family insisted she be raised with Egyptian culture and language. She is fluent in Arabic.
She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she became involved in Republican politics. She earned her bachelor’s degree and went on to complete her law degree at the University of Texas School of Law.
Career Foundations
Her early professional work began in Texas Republican politics during and after her university years. This early involvement provided connections and experience that would shape her career trajectory.
She developed skills in political strategy, personnel management, and public communication during this foundational period. These capabilities would later prove valuable across both government and private sector roles.
Rise in Corporate Leadership
She joined Goldman Sachs in 2007 as a managing director, hired by John F. W. Rogers, a longtime Goldman figure with experience in Republican administrations. She has conceded publicly that she joined despite having no background in finance.
In 2010, she was named partner. From 2007 to 2017, she served as head of the firm’s impact investing business and led the environmental markets group, which deployed over $5 billion in market-based loans and equity for sustainable economic development.
She was president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, overseeing major initiatives including 10,000 Women, 10,000 Small Businesses, and One Million Black Women—programs providing business education and capital to entrepreneurs.
After returning from government service in 2018, she became global head of the sovereign business, responsible for relationships with sovereign wealth funds and government clients worldwide. The Wall Street Journal noted she “has been a critical link between Goldman Sachs and sovereign-wealth funds, particularly those in the Middle East.”
She also served as global head of sustainability and inclusive growth and sat on the firm’s management committee and firmwide client and business standards committee.
She played a key role in Goldman’s work on the 2019 Saudi Aramco IPO, one of the largest public offerings in history.
Role in Public Service
She served in the George W. Bush administration in several roles. She was assistant to the president for presidential personnel, assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, and deputy undersecretary of state for public affairs and public diplomacy.
According to Harvard Kennedy School‘s profile at , she later joined the Trump administration during the transition period. In 2017, she served as Deputy National Security Advisor, a role that involved shaping foreign policy, particularly regarding Middle East policy.
She also held the position of assistant to the president and senior counselor for economic initiatives during this period. She left the administration in early 2018, returning to Goldman Sachs.
In October 2018, she was reportedly a leading candidate for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations but withdrew from consideration and remained with Goldman.
Business and Professional Impact
In May 2023, she left Goldman Sachs to join BDT & MSD Partners as vice chairman, president, and global head of client services. The merchant bank focuses on advising family and founder-led businesses.
In 2023, she was elected to ExxonMobil’s board of directors. She served on Meta Platforms’ board from April to December 2025, resigning without publicly specifying a reason.
She chairs the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York-based poverty-fighting organization. She serves as trustee of the National Geographic Society and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and as a member of Mount Sinai Hospital’s board and the Atlantic Council.
Personal Life
She was previously married to Richard Powell. They divorced in 2017 and have children together, though specific details about her children are kept private.
In 2019, she married David McCormick, a businessman and former government official who served as U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury. He was elected as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania in November 2024 and took office January 3, 2025.
In 2025, they co-authored the book “Who Believed in You” about the power of mentorship, sharing stories from their careers and advocating for national service programs.
Religion and Ethnicity
She is Egyptian-American of Coptic Christian background. Her family’s Coptic Christian identity was part of their experience as a religious minority in Egypt before emigrating to the United States.
During the Bush administration, she was the highest-ranking Arab-American official. The Washington Post noted she “played a critical role in the administration’s efforts to bolster public diplomacy” in the Arab world.
Her fluency in Arabic and understanding of Middle Eastern culture have been assets throughout her career in both government and business roles involving international relationships.
Net Worth and Income Overview
Her wealth has been built through senior corporate positions, particularly as a Goldman Sachs partner for over a decade. Partnership at Goldman Sachs typically involves substantial compensation including salary, bonuses, and equity.
Her current role at BDT & MSD Partners as vice chairman and president likely involves significant compensation, though specific figures aren’t public. Board positions at companies like ExxonMobil also typically include director fees and equity compensation.
Book royalties from “Who Believed in You” add to her income, though author earnings represent a smaller portion compared to corporate compensation at her level.
What Sets Her Career Apart
Her career path is notable for successful transitions between government and private sector at senior levels. Many people work in one sphere or the other, but moving back and forth while maintaining leadership positions in both is less common.
She joined Goldman Sachs admitting she had no finance background, which makes her rise to partner and management committee member unusual. Her value came from relationships, strategic thinking, and program development rather than traditional financial expertise.
Her focus on economic development and entrepreneurship programs—10,000 Women, 10,000 Small Businesses—demonstrated that corporate resources could be directed toward social impact at scale. These programs became models studied by other institutions.
Common Questions
What is Dina Powell McCormick’s current role?
She is vice chairman, president, and global head of client services at BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank. She joined the firm in May 2023 after 16 years at Goldman Sachs.
Did she serve in government?
Yes, she served in two presidential administrations. During the George W. Bush administration, she held roles including assistant secretary of state. In 2017, she served as Deputy National Security Advisor in the Trump administration before returning to Goldman Sachs in 2018.
What is her educational background?
She earned both her undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Texas. She studied at the University of Texas at Austin for her BA and the University of Texas School of Law for her JD.
Is she married?
She is married to David McCormick, who was elected U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania in 2024. She was previously married to Richard Powell, with whom she has children. They divorced in 2017.
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