WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today announced two featured guest speakers for the Business Programs at the 2026 NACDS Annual Meeting, taking place April 18–21 in Palm Beach, FL.
Set against the backdrop of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the meeting will feature perspectives that connect leadership, innovation, and national history at a pivotal moment for the country and the chain pharmacy industry. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will headline the Sunday Business Program on April 19, followed by technology strategist and entrepreneur Salim Ismail, who will headline the Tuesday Business Program on April 21.
“The 2026 NACDS Annual Meeting Business Programs are designed to give our members strategic perspective at a time of rapid change for pharmacy, retail, and healthcare,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “These speakers bring complementary insights — one grounded in history and leadership, the other focused on innovation and technology — that will help industry leaders better anticipate change, manage risk, and identify opportunity.”
Goodwin is among the nation’s most respected presidential historians and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has shaped how leaders in business, government, and education think about leadership during periods of crisis and change. Her writing draws on deep historical research to examine how presidents have navigated division, uncertainty, and transformative moments in American history.
Her eighth book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and is being developed as a feature film. She is also the author of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which inspired Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln, and No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II, which earned the Pulitzer Prize in History. In 2026, Goodwin also serves as an America250 Ambassador, contributing her expertise to national efforts to educate, engage, and unite Americans as the country marks its 250th anniversary. A former White House Fellow who worked directly with President Lyndon B. Johnson, she is widely recognized for translating historical insight into practical lessons on leadership, resilience, and decision-making.
Ismail is a leading voice on digital transformation, organizational growth, and the future of enterprise. He serves as Chairman of OpenExO and is the founding executive director of Singularity University, a global learning platform focused on emerging technologies and innovation. A best-selling author, Ismail wrote Exponential Organizations and Exponential Organizations 2.0, which explore how organizations can harness technology and new business models to scale impact and adapt to rapid change.
He has advised Fortune 500 companies and governments around the world on innovation strategy, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded multiple technology ventures and previously served as a vice president at Yahoo, where he led the company’s internal incubator. His perspective is informed by decades of work at the intersection of technology, business, and large-scale organizational change, offering leaders actionable insights as they navigate competitive and operational change.
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