⭐TBE VIP: Nicola MacDonald | The Digital Detox Club
Nicola MacDonald is Co-founder of The Digital Detox Club – a growing movement helping people unplug from technology and reconnect with real life.
Founded in Bath in early 2025, the club hosts tech-free pop-up events designed to bring people together through creativity, calm, and conversation. From cosy offline cafés to lakeside journaling sessions, to learning new analogue skills, The Digital Detox Club creates space for genuine connection – no screens, no scrolling, just real moments.
As our world becomes increasingly digital, the club is on a mission to make real life everyone’s addiction.
Can you tell us about your first full-time job?
Media planning for an agency.
What did you learn early on in your career that has stayed with you?
It doesn’t matter how hard you work if you don’t advocate for yourself. Promotions rarely happen.
Who inspires you (a) professionally and (b) personally?
My Co-Founder Laura – her faith in our business, her warm personality and her business background.
What advice would you give to someone starting out on a similar career path?
Find a business partner who is aligned with your values and who offers skills you don’t have.
Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
Continuing a healthy balance of work/leisure time with an expanded Digital Detox Club that is national. Knowing we’re helping and have helped many people to find a healthier balance with their tech habits.
What do you do to keep yourself and The Digital Detox Club at the top of your game?
Pausing when opportunities come in and looking at my to do list. Really looking at it, then sometimes saying no to opportunities or postponing projects so they work for me rather than burning out. Boundaries are key! Personally, I enjoy meditation, walking in nature, yoga, running and saunas/wild swims in the warmer months!
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
Determination and staying self-employed, even when finances were particularly tough in the earlier years.
What’s next on your professional bucket list?
National presence for The Digital Detox Club with representatives running cafes and gatherings in different cities.
Pictured: Nicola (right) with business partner Laura
