Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
Explore the University of Technology Sydney
Category Filters:
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Newsroom
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... 2017
  4. arrow_forward_ios 11
  5. arrow_forward_ios Founder to founder: Digivizer and FOOD4FACE

Founder to founder: Digivizer and FOOD4FACE

23 November 2017

UTS startup founder Melanie Lewis of FOOD4FACE caught up with Emma Lo Russo, CEO and co-founder of social and web analytics company, Digivizer, to share advice and inspiration for the entrepreneurial journey.

Founder to founder: Melanie Lewis of FOOD4FACE and Emma Lo Russo, Digivizer

Melanie (pictured above): Life can be hectic and overwhelming as a startup founder! How do you unwind and switch your brain off to be able to sleep restfully each night?

Emma: This is a challenge for me — as I like the time to reflect and think about progress and where to focus next without the bustle of the day. Prioritising what to do the following day and knowing I can control my time allows me to end one day and look forward to the next.

To switch my mind off I read a book on my Kindle (no other email/web distraction). This routine helps my mind switch from work to the story I am reading and very quickly get to sleep. I just have to be careful on what book I read so I don’t get too stimulated and excited about applying lessons to business! So I tend to keep them to other areas of interest or historical fiction.

Melanie: Did you ever doubt that you would make it in your first year? And what kept you going?

Emma (pictured below): Fear of failure was a constant energy source — and still is! I thrive on difficult challenges and leverage that fear to focus on how to strategize to take me from where I am today to where I want to be tomorrow.

In terms of what keeps me going? A deep belief I can make a difference, that I can succeed. Sheer bloody grit, resilience and commitment to working hard. Always being open to refining your strategy to reach your vision. And hiring the best people you can — who are also smart, talented and passionate — they inspire and give me confidence every day to keep going.

Emma Lo Russo, Digivizer

Melanie: Before you had any brand awareness in the marketplace, what sort of activities did you do to raise your profile?

Emma: Being active in social, writing thought leadership articles which, when published, led to speaking opportunities. But mostly it was targeting key prospect customers and when successful, building those relationships out and enjoying referral business.

Melanie: Prior to momentum, how did you build confidence to speak with potential customers?

Emma: I’ve found it best to not rehearse the perfect pitch or speech. I am genuinely committed to helping our customers be successful. The more I listen to what their needs and challenges are, the more I am able to consider how we should engage in a way that provides the solution they are looking for.

Genuine commitment, smarts, passion and aligned values give you the confidence to speak to customers. At worst, never waste anyone’s time and provide some value, and at best, find and agree upon a way to help them.

Visit entrepreneurship.uts.edu.au and sign up to our Innovation and Entrepreneurship newsletter to discover more entrepreneurial student opportunities.

 

Share
Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on LinkedIn
Back to Entrepreneurship at UTS blog

Related News

  • Student founders at Sydney Women Startup Weekend
    New founders shine at Sydney Women Startup Weekend
  • Murray Hurps addresses the audience at the Festival of Future You
    Startup internships bring studentpreneurs to the fore
  • Professor Margaret Maile Petty
    Scaling student entrepreneurship at UTS

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility