Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: Abigail Lee

For Abigail Lee, owning her own business is about more than being her own boss. A Mason City native now raising her family here, she feels blessed to love what she does for a living.

“I love that I did this in the town I grew up in – in the state I love,” said Lee, who owns Lee Realty at 107 1st St. SE. “Myself, my husband, and my family want to make our community better. We love that my business is locally owned, and I feed that money and energy back into the community. I get to be North Iowa’s ambassador and cheerleader.”

Lee draws on inspiration from her parents—her dad, who is also an entrepreneur, and her mom, who was very involved in the community.

“Both were amazing role models,” she said. “I wanted to work in a position where you got out of it what you put into it,” she said. “I get to promote the town I grew up in and absolutely love.”

While she’s surprised to see some people look at women as ”less than” and treat them unfairly in the 21st Century, she chooses to let her work ethic and results speak for themselves. She also encourages other women to take the same risk she chose to take.

“Fear is a liar,” she said. “You will regret more of what you don’t do than the things you do. Mistakes are lessons. A person grows through adversity and tough times.”

ABOUT THIS SERIES: Here in Mason City, we are proud to celebrate the women at the heart of the Main Street Mason City district, whose businesses not only add vitality to our downtown but also serve as cornerstones for growth, creativity, and connection. Follow along as we shine a spotlight on our community's innovative, resilient, and inspiring women entrepreneurs.