Dina Powell

Dina Powell
Born	Dina Habib (1973-06-12) June 12, 1973 Cairo, Egypt
Occupation(s)	Finance executive, political advisor
Years active	1990s–present
Known for	United States Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy under Donald Trump; managing director and partner at Goldman Sachs; chair of the Robin Hood Foundation; member of Meta's board of directors

Dina Powell, also referred to as Dina Powell McCormick (née Habib, ; born June 12, 1973), is an Egyptian-American leader in finance, philanthropy, and political advising. She gained prominence through her role as the United States Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy under President Donald Trump.

Originally from Cairo, Egypt, Powell moved to the United States during her childhood. A dedicated member of the Republican Party, she became active in Texas Republican circles throughout and following her education at the University of Texas at Austin. During the George W. Bush administration, she occupied multiple positions such as 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.

In 2007, Powell transitioned to Goldman Sachs, where she advanced to managing director and later partner, simultaneously leading its philanthropic branch, the Goldman Sachs Foundation. In this capacity, she spearheaded projects including the foundation’s 10,000 Women initiative.

Joining the Trump administration during its transition phase, Powell continued in her role afterward. As Deputy National Security Advisor, she played a significant part in shaping foreign policy during the administration’s initial year, with a focus on Middle Eastern affairs. At the same time, she held the position of Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor for Economic Initiatives, which occupied roughly 20 percent of her professional commitments.

Powell exited the administration in early 2018 to rejoin Goldman Sachs as a partner on its Management Committee. Later that year in October, she emerged as a frontrunner for the post of United States Ambassador to the United Nations but ultimately withdrew to remain with Goldman Sachs. In 2022, she was appointed chair of the Robin Hood Foundation, effective from 2023. She departed Goldman Sachs in 2023 to become part of BDT & MSD Partners. On April 11, 2025, Powell was named to Meta’s board of directors, with her term beginning April 15, 2025.

Early life and education

Dina Habib was born into a middle-class Coptic Christian household in Cairo, Egypt. Her father served as a captain in the Egyptian Army, while her mother attended American University in Cairo. The family relocated to the United States during her early years, settling in Dallas, Texas, where they had connections within the local Coptic community. Her parents ran a convenience store, with her father also working as a bus driver and engaging in real estate; meanwhile, her mother occasionally practiced social work. After moving to North America, the family welcomed a third daughter.

Although Habib acquired English through schooling, she was raised immersed in Egyptian culture and became fluent in Arabic. Reflecting on her upbringing later, she expressed appreciation for the cultural principles imparted by her family. All foreign-born relatives eventually obtained U.S. citizenship through naturalization. She completed high school at Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 1991.

She pursued higher education at the University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts, enrolling in the Plan II Honors program. During this time, she participated in community service activities and joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. To support her studies financially, she worked as a legislative assistant for Republican Texas State Senators Ike Harris and Jerry E. Patterson, focusing on policy areas such as juvenile justice reform.

Her family was deeply aligned with the Republican Party and held admiration for Ronald Reagan. Habib adopted similar political beliefs centered on individual empowerment, minimal government intervention, and economic liberty. For her honors thesis, she conducted an analysis on mentoring programs for juvenile offenders. She graduated with honors in 1995 from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in humanities.

Early political career

Habib had secured admission to law school but postponed her enrollment after being offered a year-long internship with U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, where her proficiency in Arabic was a key asset. Relocating to Washington, D.C., she ultimately chose not to return to law school.

Following this internship, she spent four years on the leadership team of Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey in the U.S. House of Representatives. She then took on the role of Director of Congressional Affairs at the Republican National Committee, assisting in placing Republicans within lobbying organizations and contributing to George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.

First marriage and family

On January 10, 1998, Powell married Richard C. Powell, a public relations expert who later became managing director at Quinn Gillespie & Associates in Washington and subsequently president of Teneo Strategy. After their marriage, she adopted his surname for professional use.

The couple has two daughters, born in 2001 and 2006 respectively. In 2007, they acquired a condominium valued at $3.85 million located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

White House Personnel Office

While working at the RNC, Powell caught the attention of Clay Johnson III, who was responsible for hiring within the George W. Bush administration. After the election, Johnson reached out to Powell regarding the presidential transition process. She accepted a position as Deputy Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel.

In January 2003, following Johnson’s transition to a different role, Powell was promoted to Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel. In this capacity, she managed appointments for cabinet members, subcabinet officials, and ambassadors. Leading a team of 35 staff members, she played a pivotal role in hiring approximately 4,000 individuals during Bush’s second term starting in 2005. At just 29 years old, she was the youngest individual ever appointed to this senior White House position. Her recommendations for roles within the State Department earned her strong approval from Secretary Condoleezza Rice.

Department of State

In March 2005, Powell received a nomination to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, effectively acting as an ambassador to Arabic-speaking nations. This appointment attracted notable attention in Egypt. Her tenure lasted from July 11, 2005, until June 6, 2007, during which she also held the title of Deputy Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. She directed the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which administers programs such as the Fulbright Program. Powell frequently accompanied Secretary Rice on trips focused on Middle Eastern affairs.

During her service, she initiated public-private collaborations between American corporations and foreign partners, including a U.S.-Lebanon project aimed at economic recovery following the 2006 Lebanon War. Likely operating under the Middle East Partnership Initiative framework, she promoted cultural exchanges between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran—for instance, facilitating visits by Iranian physicians to Western countries and sending a U.S. wrestling team eastward. She also organized scholar exchange programs and launched the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership, linking emerging female leaders with Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit—a public-private partnership that has been praised for its success over more than ten years.

Powell departed government service in 2007 due to family commitments. As the highest-ranking Arab-American in the Bush administration, she played an influential role in advancing public diplomacy during a period marked by increasing anti-American sentiment in the Arab world following the Iraq invasion. Subsequently, she joined the Advisory Council of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Goldman Sachs

In 2007, Powell was appointed managing director at Goldman Sachs, a move facilitated by John F. W. Rogers, a veteran Goldman executive with connections to previous Republican administrations. She attained partner status in 2010. Powell has openly stated that she entered Goldman without a formal finance background, highlighting that her career progression was fueled by bold decisions and calculated risks.

She directed the firm's impact investing division and held the position of president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation starting in 2010, alongside responsibilities as global head of the Office of Corporate Engagement and membership on the Partnership Committee.

As leader of Goldman Sachs Impact Investing, Powell oversaw investments exceeding $4 billion focused on housing and community development throughout the United States. At the Foundation—one of the largest corporate philanthropic entities worldwide—she spearheaded programs supporting entrepreneurs globally, including notable initiatives like 10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Businesses. The 10,000 Women initiative provides business training, capital access, and mentorship opportunities to female entrepreneurs in developing nations. Under Powell’s guidance, Goldman Sachs collaborated with the International Finance Corporation and Overseas Private Investment Corporation to mobilize $600 million in funding, facilitating financial resources for over 100,000 women internationally. This effort involved close coordination with the State Department.

Powell also managed Goldman Sachs Gives, an entity established in 2007 to streamline charitable donations from partners.

Throughout her tenure, Powell served on boards such as Harvard Kennedy School's Social Enterprise Initiative, the American University in Cairo, the Center for Global Development, Vital Voices, and the Nightingale-Bamford School. Additionally, she holds memberships in the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission.

Her professional network includes collaboration with Democratic figures like Obama administration advisors Valerie Jarrett and Gene Sperling.

Senior advisor

Before the 2016 United States presidential election, Powell had no connections with President Trump or his family. Following the election, she was contacted by Ivanka Trump, who expressed interest in understanding how success was measured within the 10,000 Women program. This interaction led to Powell’s participation in the transition team focused on promoting women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.

Commencing January 20, 2017, Powell assumed the role of Senior Advisor to the President for Entrepreneurship, Economic Growth and the Empowerment of Women, becoming one of the few officials from the Bush era to join the Trump administration. She relocated from New York City to Washington D.C. for this position with plans to serve for one year. As part of this transition, she divested her Goldman Sachs holdings.

In this capacity, Powell directed a collaborative U.S.-Canadian initiative promoting women’s business leadership through the United States-Canada Council for the Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, which included engagement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She also convened a listening forum addressing domestic and international human trafficking issues.

Beyond her principal duties, Powell took part in discussions between President Trump and Saudi defense minister Mohammed bin Salman, sharing oversight responsibilities for $200 billion in U.S.-Saudi arms agreements. She continued to support Ivanka Trump by leveraging her broad network across finance, corporate sectors, and government circles—a resource considered highly valuable within the administration. Additionally, Powell contributed to early staffing decisions.

Even after her appointment as deputy national security advisor in March 2017, she allocated approximately 20 percent of her time to her original advisory responsibilities.

In June 2017, Powell provided counsel during a trip to Canada aimed at enhancing bilateral economic ties. She was also among those considered for the position of White House Chief of Staff following Reince Priebus’s departure, with advocacy from Ivanka Trump and her husband. Although President Trump viewed Powell favorably, he ultimately selected former General John F. Kelly as Homeland Security Secretary and Chief of Staff in July 2017.

National Security Council

On March 15, 2017, Powell was named Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy while continuing to oversee economic affairs. This decision was influenced by National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, who responded to outside recommendations highlighting her qualifications.

By April 2017, The New York Times identified Powell as an emerging talent in the field of national security, a sentiment shared by Vogue and the Associated Press, which portrayed her as having "quietly become a significant force within the White House." The Washington Post also recognized her as one of the administration’s most intriguing personalities. McMaster further elevated her status on the NSC by assigning her seats on both the Principals Committee and Deputies Committee. Powell played a pivotal role in assisting McMaster with Cabinet relations and provided counsel on how best to engage with President Trump.

In relation to the May 2017 report alleging that President Trump disclosed classified information to Russian officials during a meeting attended by Powell, she publicly refuted the claim; however, subsequent revelations confirmed that Trump had shared Israeli intelligence at that encounter. Despite Powell’s initial denial, the president later acknowledged the information leak.

Powell was a principal figure during President Trump’s inaugural overseas trip in May 2017, beginning with Saudi Arabia. She was instrumental in planning and negotiations throughout the Middle East portion of the visit, frequently serving as the only female participant at key discussions. Her governmental expertise and connections within the Arab world were critical factors contributing to the trip’s achievements. Additionally, Powell ensured that women’s rights in Saudi Arabia were emphasized in one of the prominent speeches delivered during the visit.

She also played a role in securing the release of Egyptian aid worker Aya Hijazi. In July 2017, Powell accompanied Trump to Poland and Germany for the G20 summit held in Hamburg. Later that summer, she joined Jared Kushner and envoy Jason Greenblatt in negotiations aimed at advancing the Middle East peace process, maintaining her influence even as other White House officials departed. The administration remained hopeful about reaching an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. This effort was followed by a covert Middle East trip involving Kushner, Powell, and others. By November 2017, Powell was part of an inner "core four" group tasked with drafting a detailed Middle East peace plan alongside Kushner, Greenblatt, and Ambassador David M. Friedman—Powell being uniquely distinguished as the only native-born Egyptian among them.

One of Powell’s significant accomplishments came in December 2017 with the completion of the administration’s National Security Strategy document, which she developed collaboratively with McMaster and senior NSC official Nadia Schadlow. Their approach included extensive consultations with national security professionals and Cabinet members to ensure widespread endorsement.

Exit from Administration

On December 8, 2017, it was revealed that Powell intended to depart the administration in early 2018, following a postponed vice presidential visit to the Middle East. Her decision was motivated by a desire to return to New York and dedicate more time to her family. White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders referred to Powell as a "trusted advisor" who had originally planned a one-year tenure and would continue to back the President’s Middle East initiatives.

The departure was confirmed by four administration officials as Powell’s own choice, with many regarding her exit as a considerable setback for the White House. Nadia Schadlow, an NSC staff member, was appointed as her successor.

Prospects of Reappointment

Following Nikki Haley’s resignation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in October 2018, Powell surfaced as a prominent contender for the position. President Trump explicitly included her among potential candidates. However, resistance within the Administration—most notably from John Bolton—was rooted in concerns over her internationalist perspectives and perceived divergence from the "America First" doctrine. Additionally, Powell reportedly hesitated to undergo a potentially divisive Senate confirmation process.

She ultimately withdrew her candidacy in October 2018, citing family obligations and commitments at Goldman Sachs. After Heather Nauert stepped back from consideration in February 2019, Powell’s name was again mentioned as a possible nominee; nevertheless, Kelly Knight Craft was appointed instead. It remains uncertain how actively Powell pursued this role.

During this period, Powell was also under consideration as the first female president of the World Bank and was evaluated for the position of White House Chief of Staff.

Harvard Kennedy School Fellowship

On February 12, 2018, Powell joined the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School as a non-residential senior fellow. Her responsibilities centered on instructing students in diplomacy and foreign policy practices.

Rejoining Goldman Sachs

Later that same month, Powell re-entered Goldman Sachs, becoming a member of the firm’s management committee. She took on the role of global head of sustainability and inclusive growth while leading the Sovereign Fund division, which focuses on strengthening ties with sovereign clients worldwide. Powell was instrumental in Goldman Sachs’ involvement with the 2019 initial public offering of Saudi Aramco. The Wall Street Journal highlighted her pivotal role connecting Goldman Sachs with sovereign wealth funds, particularly across the Middle East.

In May 2023, Powell departed Goldman Sachs to join BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant banking firm, where she assumed the roles of vice chairman and president of global client services. She also became a partner at the firm.

In 2023, Powell was elected to serve on the board of directors for ExxonMobil.

Second Marriage and Influence on Spouse’s Career

Dina and Richard Powell finalized their divorce in 2017.

By 2018, she became engaged to financier and former government official Dave McCormick, marrying him in 2019. At times, she used the name Dina Powell McCormick professionally.

In 2022, McCormick emerged as a leading Republican candidate for the 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania. Powell played an influential role by leveraging her connections with former President Trump to secure his endorsement for McCormick during meetings at Mar-a-Lago. Her network was considered crucial in mitigating concerns stemming from McCormick’s earlier criticisms of Trump. Reports—some disputed—alleged that Powell suggested McCormick’s opponent Dr. Oz was unelectable due to his Muslim heritage; this drew criticism given Powell’s own background. The couple also emphasized Oz’s dual citizenship during their campaign efforts. Despite their endeavors, Trump ultimately endorsed Oz.

The Republican primary concluded narrowly following a recount, with McCormick losing to Oz; Oz then lost the general election to Democrat John Fetterman.

On September 21, 2023, McCormick announced his second bid for the 2024 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, facing no significant opposition in the primary and securing the Republican nomination unchallenged. Powell took part in his campaign launch event. McCormick subsequently defeated incumbent Democrat Bob Casey Jr in the general election.

Foundation Chair

In October 2022, Powell was appointed as the chairperson of the Robin Hood Foundation, an organization dedicated to venture philanthropy aimed at reducing poverty in New York City. She officially took on this leadership position in early 2023, having formerly held the role of vice chair and played a key part in managing the foundation’s initiatives during the COVID-19 crisis.

Awards and Honors

Before 2010, Powell was recognized as one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. In 2006, she was honored with the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award from the University of Texas.

Powell received the American by Choice Award in 2007, an accolade celebrating exceptional contributions by naturalized U.S. citizens, which was presented by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The next year, she was given the inaugural Young Alumna Award by the Ursuline Academy of Dallas.

In 2009, the Carnegie Corporation of New York acknowledged her as a Great Immigrant for her dedication to public service. In 2017, she delivered the keynote address at a State Department dinner honoring participants in the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership and was also named among Working Mother’s 50 Most Powerful Moms.

External links

• Official NSC website
• C-SPAN appearances
• Profile page at Goldman Sachs – current stint
• Profile page at Goldman Sachs – prior stint
• Dina Powell in the Huffington Post: The Future of Egypt Depends on Investing in Women
• Style portrayal in Gotham magazine