She has come a long way since her first job at Paine Webber as a securities analyst. She remembers, "This was in the early days of female analysts. I was asked to sign my name M.C. Nelson to disguise the fact that I was a woman," she said. Luckily, times have changed. But if you feel you have hit the "glass ceiling" Nelson offers this advice: "Make sure you develop the skills to earn the positions you want. If you can't do that inside your firm, go outside - volunteer in organizations that need competent executives.

The volunteer arena is a place where someone without a financial background, for example, might serve on a finance committee alongside real financial talents. It's a way to learn skills you don't have. Overall, I say to stay in the fight…channel any frustration and anger you may feel into positive action. If you succumb to these negative feelings, nothing will ever change. Long ago I came to the conclusion that, as Ghandi said, I had to 'be the change I wished to see in the world.' "

It's obvious that Nelson is doing her part to make positive changes in the business world. Carlson Companies was named as one of the best companies to work for by Working Mother magazine in 2001. They have also earned the title of one of the best companies to work for in America by Fortune in 2002. Nelson herself has been slated by Business Week as one of the top 25 executives in business, and President Bush appointed her to chair the National Women's Business Council.

It is said that Nelson's son Curtis, who is currently Chief Operating Officer of Carlson Consumer Services and also President and CEO of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, is poised to lead the company. With his mother steering the company into an even more global entity, Curtis will be all set to continue the Carlson legacy.

Nelson's Travel and Safety Tips

Leading a multi-billion dollar company has its perks, including the opportunity to travel the world. Under Nelson's leadership, the Carlson Company's worldwide travel agency business has increased 200 percent. Nelson also serves on the World Economic Forum's Board of Governors for Travel and Tourism. She offers some safety advice and other tips from her years of experience:

• Don't wear expensive jewelry while traveling.

• Pre-arrange your pickup at the airport.

• Exit your transportation only at a main entrance where other people are standing.

• In hotels, avoid ground floor rooms - they're more prone to burglaries and break-ins.

• Make sure the hotel bellman enters your room before you and checks it out.

• Never open your hotel room door to an unexpected knock. Use the peephole, and call the front desk to report any visitors you don't recognize or expect.

• Don't use your business card as your luggage tag, and don't put information on your bag that indicates your gender or makes you a target.

• Make photocopies of your passport's identification page, and keep them separate from your real passport - they can expedite identification and replacement

• Use the U.S. State Department website (www.state.gov) or your own security resources to get an up-to-date assessment of the area to which you'll be traveling.

• Give someone at your home or office your full itinerary, complete with contact numbers. Check in with them.

• Don't do or wear anything that readily identifies you as an American citizen or an executive.

• Find a medical source in your area that is up-to-date on international travel and diseases, and can offer inoculations if needed.

For more information on Carlson Companies, visit their website at www.carlson.com.

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