Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anca Platon Trifan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Anca Platon, appreciate you joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I actually tested that question for myself last year. I took what you’d call a “regular job” to see if maybe I was craving stability over the constant hustle of business ownership. Within a few months, the answer became crystal clear: I’m not built to be employable.

I move too fast, think too big, and see too many directions to fit neatly inside someone else’s box. That role wanted me to stay in my lane, execute, repeat. Meanwhile, my brain was exploding with ideas, projects, and new ways to create impact. I thrive when I can take on multiple kinds of work and collaborate with a diverse mix of people, not just follow one prescribed path.

What that short stint gave me was a reminder of how much of a blessing entrepreneurship really is, even with its daily hassles. It’s where I get to lead, create, experiment, and move at my own pace. It’s not the easiest path, but it’s the one that makes me happiest.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Anca Platon Trifan, and my career has always been rooted in AV production, event technology, and more recently, AI strategy. For over two decades I’ve been producing live, hybrid, and virtual events, starting out as a sound engineer and eventually working my way up to technical director and producer. That path led me to start <b>Tree-Fan Events Productions LLC</b>, where I get to bring together my love of technology, creativity, and seamless execution.

I also built a strong platform as a media producer and educator. I host <b>Events: Demystified</b>, a top-ranked podcast in the AV and event tech space, and co-produce other shows like Return on Wellness, and Unlocking the Club. Speaking is another major part of my work, I’ve taken the stage at conferences like SXSW, IMEX, PCMA, MPI, Smart Meetings, and more to share how professionals can integrate AI and AV into their work in practical, human-centered ways.

My work spans three main areas. First, event production and AV management for organizations that need technical reliability under pressure. Second, AI consulting for event teams and small businesses who want to save time and increase impact without getting lost in endless tools. Third, education and workshops where I teach professionals how to use AI responsibly and strategically through frameworks I’ve created, including CLEAR Prompting and #fit4events™.

The problems I help solve usually come down to efficiency and clarity. Event clients get shows that run smoothly so they can focus on their audience instead of worrying about AV. Business and event pros get guidance to use AI in ways that actually move the needle instead of chasing the latest AI tool.

What sets me apart is my dual expertise: I’ve got deep technical skills from years behind the console in AV, and I’ve also invested heavily in mastering AI at both strategic and practical levels. It’s rare to find someone who can code an AI assistant to manage event logistics one day and call cues from backstage the next.

I’m proud of being recognized among the Top 50 Voices in Events and as a Best of Stage: Smart Speaker. I’m also proud of bringing my passion for fitness into my professional work through the #fit4events™ framework, which encourages resilience, discipline, and wellness for event professionals.

If there’s one thing I’d want clients and followers to know, it’s that my work is about empowering people to thrive under pressure. Whether I’m producing a show, consulting on AI, or coaching through the lens of fitness, my goal is always to help others perform at their best, create with confidence, and lead with clarity.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I moved to the United States, I had a suitcase, less than $200 in my pocket, and no safety net. I didn’t know a single person here, but I carried a dream with me: to carve out a life and a career built with my own two hands. Starting over from scratch was daunting, but it taught me how to be resourceful, persistent, and unshakably resilient.

Over time, I built not just a business, but an identity in a male-dominated industry where few women were given a seat at the table. I became a voice, an advocate, and eventually a recognized thought leader in events, AV production, and AI. That journey wasn’t about luck. It was about grit, endless hours of learning, and refusing to accept limits placed on me.

Looking back, that move was the first bold step in proving to myself that I can survive, adapt, and thrive anywhere. It shaped how I lead today and why I’m so committed to helping others find their own path forward.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When COVID hit, the entire events industry came to a sudden standstill. Overnight, in-person gatherings were canceled, and many colleagues were forced out of business altogether, some never returned. It was a moment of reckoning, and I knew I had two options: wait it out or pivot fast.

For me, the answer was clear. I leaned hard into live streaming, something I had actually experimented with years before when I figured out how to stream my own wedding across continents so my family in Europe could join me virtually. That early experience gave me a foundation, but COVID demanded a whole new approach.

I took what I knew about AV production and reimagined events for the screen. I rewrote the manual for how to take an in-person event and turn it into a live broadcast that people would actually pay attention to. I studied audience behavior, short attention spans, multitasking, distractions, and built formats that kept people engaged for 30 to 45 minutes at a time, rather than dragging out content like we might in a ballroom.

That pivot didn’t just keep my business alive. It positioned me to thrive in the post-COVID world, helping clients deliver events that were innovative, accessible, and impactful. It was proof that sometimes the skills we pick up in unexpected chapters of life end up being exactly what we need to reinvent ourselves when everything shifts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ancaplatontrifan.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancaplatontrifan
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ancatrifan/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@treefan_events
• Other: https://eventsdemystified.com/, https://www.youtube.com/@eventsdemystifiedpodcast, https://treefanevents.com/, https://www.fitmindfulmavens.com/, https://www.youtube.com/@FitMindfulMavens

Image Credits
The fitness professional photos are credited to my fitness photographer, Gerardo Guzman. The photo from the awards gala, Smart Meetings & BoothEasy Photo & Video Experiences