Molly Watson - May 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Molly Watson of Home Style in Mason City, IA as the May 2025 Entrepreneur of the Month.
Mason City entrepreneur Molly Watson has transformed her passion for design into a thriving business with Home Style, an interior design firm that brings beauty and functionality to homes and offices. With a strong business background and a deep understanding of the home renovation process, Molly has positioned herself as a go-to expert for clients seeking tailored design solutions in North Iowa.
Home Style specializes in a wide range of interior design services, from furnishing and décor projects to full-scale remodeling and new construction work. Molly works closely with residential and commercial clients to create personalized spaces that meet their needs and aesthetics. Her expertise spans concept creation, design planning, coordination with tradespeople, and project execution, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for her clients.
Molly’s approach is shaped by her extensive experience not only in design but also in project management and business strategy. Having lived in multiple homes and undergone renovations herself, she understands the evolving needs of homeowners throughout different life stages. Before launching Home Style, Molly built a successful 20-year career in marketing, working in healthcare, financial services, and nonprofit sectors. While she enjoyed her work, she found herself reflecting on the opportunities she wanted to create for herself. Interior design had always been a passion, and after years of consideration, she decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
“I saw women my age losing opportunities for various reasons, and it made me think about what I truly wanted for myself,” Molly said. “The only thing holding me back was fear, and I realized I would regret not taking the chance.”
Determined to make a well-informed transition, Molly spent significant time researching, networking, and learning from industry professionals across the country. She listened to podcasts, read extensively, and asked countless questions to gain a deep understanding of what it would take to build a successful design business. Molly credits the Venture School program, offered through the NIACC Pappajohn Center, with helping her refine her business approach. Encouraged by a family friend, she enrolled in the program, which provided her with invaluable resources, mentorship, and practical exercises such as customer interviews. “One of the most valuable takeaways from Venture School was learning to ask potential clients what they need and want,” Molly explained. “That insight continues to shape how I deliver services today.”
Reflecting on her journey, Molly encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace courage over confidence. “You’re not going to feel confident when you start something new because you’re still learning. But if you have the courage to move forward and work with integrity, you’ll figure things out,” she advised.
Since launching Home Style, Molly has not only built a successful business but has also given back to the entrepreneurial community. She now serves as a mentor for Venture School and supports other small businesses, paying forward the generosity and guidance she received in her early days. For those considering entrepreneurship, Molly shares a quote she keeps pinned in her office: “A calling is a powerful thing. If you’re fortunate enough to have one, lucky enough to be aware of it, and blessed enough to have the means to do something about it, I hope you are courageous enough to act upon it.” To learn more about Home Style, visit homestylecompany.com.