Sonal Shah (economist)

Sonal R. Shah
Born	(1968-05-20) May 20, 1968 Mumbai, India
Occupation(s)	Economist, government official
Known for	CEO of The Texas Tribune; Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation; National Policy Director for Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign

Sonal R. Shah (born May 20, 1968) is an American economist and government official who currently serves as CEO of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas that focuses on politics and public policy. She was the National Policy Director for Mayor Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential bid. Between 2009 and 2011, Shah led the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation within the White House.

Shah established and directed the Beeck Center for Social Impact & Innovation at Georgetown University. Additionally, she played a role in the Obama presidential transition team and managed Global Development Initiatives at Google.org.

Early life

Originally from Mumbai, India, Shah was born to Gujarati parents and relocated to the United States at age four, growing up in Houston, Texas. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Chicago in 1990 and later earned a master's degree from Duke University.

Public service

From 1995 to 2001, Shah worked at the U.S. Department of Treasury, where she oversaw strategy and programs related to sub-Saharan Africa, including efforts on debt relief and development in partnership with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. She collaborated with Finance Ministries in Bosnia and Kosovo to help design banking systems after conflict. During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, she provided counsel to U.S. Treasury officials involved in crisis management.

In November 2008, Shah joined the Obama-Biden Transition Project, assisting in preparing President-elect Obama for his administration. She publicly refuted allegations linking her to Hindu nationalist organizations following media reports.

Appointed in April 2009 as director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, Shah coordinated federal support for nonprofits and social entrepreneurs working on significant social issues. She also collaborated with the National Security Council to incorporate international perspectives into these efforts.

In July 2019, Shah took on the role of national policy director for South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. After Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination in 2020, she contributed to the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force.

In February 2022, Shah was sworn in as Chief Commissioner of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (PACAANHPI). The next month, she joined the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Private and nonprofit sector

Between 2001 and 2003, Shah served as Director of Operations and Programs at the Center for Global Development, managing strategy, infrastructure, and daily operations. In 2001, together with her siblings Roopal and Anand, she co-founded Indicorps, a nonprofit fellowship program that enables young members of the Indian diaspora to engage in grassroots volunteer projects across India.

From 2003 to 2004, Shah was associate director at the Center for American Progress, providing guidance to congressional members and government officials on matters such as trade policy, outsourcing, and post-conflict reconstruction. In 2004, she joined Goldman Sachs as vice president where she concentrated on green initiatives by advising clients on alternative energy investments and integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into financial decisions.

In 2007, Shah assumed leadership of Global Development Initiatives at Google.org, working alongside Executive Director Larry Brilliant on global economic growth strategies. She also fostered expansion of small and medium sized enterprises through collaborations with organizations such as the Omidyar Network and the Soros Foundation.

In 2021, Shah was appointed founding president of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), spearheading philanthropic efforts aimed at combating discrimination. On January 1, 2023, she began her tenure as CEO of nonprofit newsroom The Texas Tribune.

Board Memberships

Shah holds board positions at The Century Foundation, Consumer Reports, and Internews, where he plays a key role in guiding strategic direction and governance.

Awards and recognition

• 2003: Named India Abroad Person of the Year
• 2006: Selected as a Henry Crown Fellow by the Aspen Institute
• 2007: Appointed Next Generation Fellow at the American Assembly, Columbia University
• 2012: Designated Fall Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics

Papers and articles

• Principles and Framework for the MCA, Center for Global Development
• Trading Perspectives, Center for American Progress, 2004
• Report on Weak States and National Security, Center for Global Development
• Introduction to Social Finance, Center for American Progress, 2013