Sara Olán-Peterson, an independent planner and owner of Convene OPS in Denver, connected with Colorado Meetings + Events to discuss her journey to the industry and what keeps her inspired day to day. She brings more than 15 years of experience to her clients and has taken on a contracted consulting role with Rocky Mountain Event Consultants in support of their work with Meeting Professionals International Rocky Mountain Chapter.
M+E: What prompted you to become a planner?
SOP: Honestly, I didn’t initially plan to be a planner when I was growing up. I wanted to be a polyglot medical interpreter. But after my freshman year of college at Metropolitan State University of Denver and paying for school myself, I had to reconsider the financial reality of that path. A classmate in a group project mentioned studying hospitality, and I was intrigued. It was the potential for diverse experiences and the satisfaction of orchestrating complex logistics that kept me pursuing hospitality.
M+E: What keeps you motivated?
SOP: Two things keep me going: the work itself and the people. There’s always a new mental challenge in creating efficient processes and systems, which feeds my love of learning and problem-solving. But honestly, it’s the industry family that’s irreplaceable. I have been blessed to meet some amazing and brilliant people.
M+E: How do you keep approaches fresh and unique?
SOP: My approach evolved significantly after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I realized I had spent years working harder instead of smarter, always taking on more without much work-life balance. Rather than only focusing on unique attendee experiences, I also focus on operational efficiency. I started dabbling with automation and artificial intelligence (AI), creating systems that eliminate redundant work. Now I run a consulting business that includes optimization consulting, full and partial event management, and project-based planner support. My focus is on using automation where it makes sense, leveraging AI when it adds value, and freeing up time to focus on the strategic work and passion projects that matter.
I think it’s worth noting that innovation doesn’t always require a big budget or elaborate production. Some of the most impactful changes I have implemented cost nothing except time to set up systems thoughtfully.
