Nicole Delaney- Johnson
Nicole Delaney-Johnson is a Senior Marketing Manager for Institutional Foodservice at Ecolab, where she leads strategic development and execution of product portfolios that support customers across the foodservice industry. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, she brings a unique blend of technical and commercial expertise to her role, helping teams deliver solutions that improve safety, hygiene, and operational efficiency. Her work focuses on driving innovation while empowering teams to achieve strong customer outcomes and professional growth.
Delaney-Johnson began her career in research and development, building a strong technical foundation in chemical engineering and product innovation. Over the course of more than 15 years with Ecolab, she progressed through several roles including Lead Chemical Engineer and Program Leader, where she guided innovation portfolios for hand hygiene, housekeeping, and facility solutions. Her career path reflects a transition from hands-on engineering to strategic leadership in marketing, combining scientific expertise with business strategy to bring new technologies to market.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Minnesota Twin Cities and has contributed to industry innovation through collaborative work that resulted in two granted U.S. patents. In addition to her professional achievements, Delaney-Johnson is actively involved in leadership and mentorship initiatives. She serves on the global board of E3, Ecolab’s women’s employee resource group, and co-leads the Twin Cities chapter, where she advocates for the advancement and empowerment of women across the organization.
• Certified Professional - Food Safety
• University of Minnesota- Bachelor's
• Two granted U.S. patents filed in 2012
• Board member of E3 Women's ERG at Ecolab
• Global board member of E3
• Co-lead of Twin Cities chapter of E3
• AIChE
• SWE
• Women's Choir
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to two key principles. First, as I meet people I focus on what I can bring to them, not just what could they bring me. How can I help them acheieve their goals? The second is I don't know it all, but I'm willing to take a step into the unknown and say, what would it take for us to be able to figure this out? What would have to be true?
And then, how do we make a little bit of progress every day? Because that added up over a career is quite substantial. Sometimes when we're under pressure, we feel the need to have to do it all ourselves, and I think especially as women, we internalize that we have to have it all, I have to do it all, but it really is a village. As much as I want individual success, there is no individual success without group success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You don't have to know who you want to be when you grow up. You can figure it out along the way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say find what makes you excited, and it is just as important to find out what doesn't make you excited. There are so many options out there. I think sometimes we come in with a preconceived notion of who we should be and what we should enjoy, but you have to discover it for yourself. It's okay if you don't find it at first.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the field is that innovation requires pursuing ideas that have not been done before, which brings uncertainty and the likelihood that early attempts will not be perfect. However, this challenge also creates opportunity by encouraging adaptability and opening the door to new solutions, technologies, and ways of thinking.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Two values are most important to me. The first is that I'm a lifelong learner. How can I continue to learn something new every day? The second is to treat everyone with respect. We are all people, we are all whole people, and their lived experience is just as important as mine, though it is different.
How do we all come to the table and work together, solve the right problems, and focus on doing it the right way?
Locations
Ecolab
1 Ecolab Place, St. Paul, MN 55102