Shawn Golhar

Shawn P.M. Golhar is a Managing Director and Global Head of Policy Advisory Banking (PAB) at Barclays. He advises investment banking and markets clients on risks and opportunities at the intersection of public policy, regulation, geopolitics, and markets. He works across sectors and geographies on issues such as industrial policy (Washington-directed capitalism), government funding, tax and fiscal policy, trade, antitrust, and national security reviews (including CFIUS). He also co-covers key clients with significant exposure to government and policy-driven dynamics. His work is focused on how shifts in government policy, industrial strategy, and geopolitical competition are reshaping capital allocation and corporate decision-making — and what that means for clients navigating an increasingly Washington-driven market environment.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), serves on the Board of Counselors for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC), and is an Advisory Board member for the Future Caucus. He previously served on an advisory committee at the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM). A recipient of the Barclays Global Citizenship Award, he has also founded or led several nonprofit initiatives. Earlier at Barclays, he was Head of Public Policy Research and led client outreach within the firm's Public Policy Group. He also served as a public finance investment banker, working on nearly $30 billion in senior and co-senior managed transactions in California. He holds a Master in Public Policy (MPP) from the Harvard Kennedy School, and earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University; he also completed a summer program at the London School of Economics (LSE). He has been a frequent contributor on policy and markets, with appearances on Bloomberg, CNBC, and other leading media outlets.