- Source of Wealth: Business (Carlson, Inc.)
- Age: 80
- Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Marital Status: Married (Glen Nelson)
- Full Name: Marilyn Carlson Nelson
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: 19 August 1939
- Occupation: Co-CEO and former chairman of Carlson Holdings
- Education: Institute Des Hautes Etudes Economiques Politiques, Geneva, BA International Economics, Smith College
- Children: 4 (Curtis, Diana, Juliet and Wendy)
Hailed by Forbes as one of the most influential women in the world today, Marilyn Carlson Nelson is the eldest daughter of the founder of Carlson Incorporated. She previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company and eventually sat as the Chairman of the Board of one of the largest private companies in the globe.
Under her leadership, it was reported that the company’s total sales have almost doubled. Apart from her executive position in Carlson Inc., Marilyn Carlson Nelson has also served as the co-chairman of the World Economic Forum which is based in Switzerland. She has also held several high positions in the World Economic Forum and was a recipient of numerous awards from the French, German and Finnish governments.