Nicola Gunby : Finding her way by creating it
Founder of CLIQ, Founder Series and previously MY REV, Nicola Gunby is today one of those women who inspire through their consistency, authenticity, and deeply personal way of inhabiting entrepreneurship. Yet nothing in her early journey seemed to predestine her to building multiple businesses. It was travel, real-world experiences, failures, small successes, and a profound desire to create a life that truly reflects who she is that shaped her path. Her story shows that one becomes an entrepreneur as much through choice as through inner transformation.
An unexpected path that becomes an obvious one
Nicola describes herself as an entrepreneur “at heart,” though she is clear that this was not always the case. She never saw herself as someone who “would really do anything special.” She didn’t know what she wanted to do and never imagined building a project with her own hands, let alone several. This lack of certainty followed her until one decision changed everything: travelling for three years with her partner.
That long journey became a true turning point. Changing countries, rhythms and perspectives, discovering different ways of living… all of this opened up an immense field of possibilities. She came to understand that there isn’t just one version of life, but as many as we choose to create. This realisation sparked a new impulse: to take the leap and create something on her own initiative.
It was from this mindset that she founded MY REV, her very first business. A project she describes as “scrappy,” because she had not yet grasped the full scope of what building a company involves and everything it requires. And it was precisely this raw learning phase that gave her the essential foundations: instinct, resourcefulness, and the ability to understand entrepreneurial logic. From that first experience, she knew she had finally found her direction.Creating spaces where people truly find one another
Through her life journey, marked by numerous moves, Nicola realised how difficult it can be to build genuine friendships in adulthood. Circles naturally grow smaller, priorities shift, and loneliness can quietly settle in, even within a life full of activity.
It was this intimate experience that sparked the idea for CLIQ : a platform designed to help women meet “their clique,” people who share a similar life stage or common interests, values or mindset. For Nicola, “finding your people” is not just a pleasant phrase — it is a human necessity, a pillar of both personal and professional fulfillment. CLIQ responds to the essential need to have a small circle of people who truly matter.
Alongside this, Nicola developed The Founder Series, a space where she highlights other female entrepreneurs. She also increasingly shares her own behind-the-scenes experiences. While entrepreneurship today is often normalized or even glamorized, Nicola acknowledges that the founder’s role is frequently idealized and far from smooth on a daily basis. For a long time, she herself only shared the positive moments. Yet behind any project lie rejected investment proposals, failed pitches, difficult feedback, and days filled with deep self-doubt. Today, she strives to embody a more honest voice, fully aware of the importance of normalizing the imperfections of the journey. Entrepreneurship demands resilience — one that is built through challenges, not in spite of them.
Growing, grounding, and passing things on
To stay aligned, Nicola relies on a gentle yet essential discipline: protecting her personal time and space. This weekly appointment with herself can take many forms : a quiet day at home, a workout, a wellness session… simply slowing down. She sees this “me time” as a vital recharge, especially when one is constantly in demand; it allows her to continue giving without burning out.
Growth and continued evolution are also central practices for Nicola. In this process, she continues to learn relentlessly and acknowledges how her inspirations over the years have shaped her. In the early days, she absorbed everything: mentors’ advice, books, podcasts, conversations with other entrepreneurs. She functioned like a “sponge,” and this mindset significantly accelerated her learning curve. Even today, she continues to draw inspiration from founders such as Grace Beverley, Krissy Cela and Conna Walker, whose courage, vision and endurance she deeply admires.
As part of this desire to keep growing, Nicola is now working on her personal voice as a founder. Sharing her story, expressing her reflections, putting a face to her projects — something she admits this once felt intimidating. Today, she sees it as a way to create an authentic connection with her community, but also as a way to better understand herself.
And what about what comes next? When she looks ahead, her focus turns toward transmission. She dreams of a life that is happy, peaceful and creative, but above all useful to other women. After CLIQ, she envisions a clear goal: creating a fund dedicated to supporting female founders — those at the beginning of their journey who need an initial boost to rise higher.
And if she were to imagine the ideal place to recharge and dream about all of this? Without hesitation: Bali.
An energy, she says, that captures her every time and inspires her to dare something new.
What to take away from Nicola ?
Nicola’s story highlights several powerful truths:
- Success does not depend on a clearly defined calling
- Travel, movement and the unknown can be our greatest teachers
- Finding your community can change a life, and sometimes we create it because we once lacked it
- Failures are not detours, but the raw material of the entrepreneurial journey
- Taking care of oneself is a necessity, not a luxury
Nicola’s path is not that of a perfect trajectory, but of a conscious construction, guided by intuition, resilience and a deep sense of connection. She does not seek to impress; instead, step by step, she builds a life and projects that truly reflect who she is.
Download CLIQ, Nicola’s app designed to help you find your people
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