---
title: "Success is Not Accidental: The Real People Behind Hub Affiliations’ Big Night"
description: Hub Affiliations earns seven nominations at affiliate marketing’s Affiliate Leaders Awards, for content, data-led partnerships and leadership ahead of Lisbon.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-09-15T10:05:24.000Z
updated: 2026-02-26T22:05:36.394Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/success-is-not-accidental-the-real-people-behind-hub-affiliations-big-night
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/inxb1swvuwq.jpg
categories: Power & Money
content_type: News
region: Global
publication: Rich Woman Magazine
---

There’s something special about that moment when months of late-night conversations, morning coffees over content plans and countless small decisions suddenly add up to something bigger. For Francesco Maddalena and Anna Maria Baccaro at Hub Affiliations, that moment came with news of seven nominations at the [Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025](https://sbcamericas.com/2025/05/13/sbc-launches-affiliate-leaders-awards/), one of the most respected ceremonies in affiliate marketing.

Francesco, the company’s founder and CEO, describes the feeling simply: the nominations aren’t just recognition, they’re confirmation that what they’re building day after day is making a difference. Anna Maria, their Content Manager, sees it as validation of an editorial approach built carefully over time – thoughtful and genuinely connected to what their partners need.

## The People Making It Happen

Francesco Maddalena didn’t start Hub Affiliations to collect awards. The company now works with [over 1,000 affiliates worldwide](https://sigma.world/news/watch-ceo-of-hub-affiliations-francesco-maddalenas-affiliate-revolution/), built on his belief that compliance and genuine insights matter more than flashy marketing. His approach focuses on treating affiliates as consultants, using data to understand what actually works in different markets, particularly in Latin America and Brazil.

‘Essere nominati in sette categorie non è solo un motivo di orgoglio, è la conferma che ciò che stiamo costruendo giorno dopo giorno sta facendo la differenza,’ Francesco explains. ‘Queste nomination sono merito del nostro team, della visione condivisa e di una cultura aziendale fondata sulla responsabilità, sull’innovazione e sulla fiducia.’

Anna Maria Baccaro brings a completely different background to the team. A [trained psychologist and sports journalist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-maria-baccaro-9a39361b6/), she worked as a TV presenter at Rai Gulp before joining Hub Affiliations in 2020. She’s hosted sports programmes like ‘Speciale Coni’ and ‘Fantagoal’, and her transition from television to affiliate marketing content might seem unusual, but it makes perfect sense when you hear her talk about storytelling.

‘Questa nomination non è solo una gratificazione personale, ma un riconoscimento a un intero approccio editoriale costruito nel tempo: pensato, consapevole e connesso ai bisogni dei nostri partner,’ Anna Maria says. ‘Raccontare l’affiliate in modo chiaro, creativo e credibile è una sfida che affrontiamo ogni giorno. Essere qui, tra i migliori, significa che la direzione è quella giusta.’

## What Recognition Actually Feels Like

For small teams with big ambitions, [award nominations](https://richwoman.co/article/rich-monday-paper-how-to-win-business-awards) aren’t just professional milestones – they’re deeply personal validation of countless unseen moments. The early mornings spent refining campaign plans, the careful conversations about company culture, the decision to prioritise long-term relationships over quick wins.

Francesco talks about teamwork and shared vision, but what that really means is trusting people to make decisions, creating space for Anna Maria’s editorial instincts to flourish, and believing that doing things properly will pay off eventually. Anna Maria’s psychology background shows in how she thinks about content – not just what to say, but understanding why people need to hear it and how they’ll actually use that information.

## Seven Ways to Tell a Story

Each of Hub Affiliations’ seven nominations represents something they’ve worked to get right: Best Affiliate Network shows their ability to build genuine partnerships. Affiliate Employer of the Year reflects [the culture Francesco talks about](https://richwoman.co/article/the-heartbeat-behind-treeline-how-company-positive-culture-helps-people-and-clients-thrive) – responsibility, fresh thinking and trust.

Anna Maria’s nomination for Content Manager of the Year recognises her approach to making complex affiliate marketing accessible and engaging. Francesco’s Leader of the Year nomination acknowledges the quiet work of building a company that people actually want to work for and with.

The campaign and traffic source nominations highlight their practical success, while the product development category reflects their willingness to try new approaches rather than copying what everyone else does.

## The Road to Lisbon

The ceremony takes place on 17 September at the [MEO Arena in Lisbon](https://sbcamericas.com/2025/07/31/sbc-summit-2025-super-stage/), part of a three-day summit that brings together affiliate marketing professionals from around the world. This year brings a significant change – [public voting](https://sbcamericas.com/2025/08/08/affiliate-leaders-shortlist-2025) will decide the winners, moving away from the traditional industry panel approach.

For Francesco and Anna Maria, this change feels appropriate. Their work ultimately serves real people – affiliates building businesses, partners looking for genuine value, team members who want to feel proud of what they do every day. Having the community vote aligns with their belief in transparency and direct relationships.

## Why Their Approach Works

Hub Affiliations’ recent success isn’t accidental. This year alone they’ve won the [‘Rising Star’ award at the iGB Affiliate Awards](https://www.agimeg.it/hub-affiliations-premiata-come-rising-star-agli-igb-affiliate-awards-2025/), been named [‘Best Sportsbook Affiliate’ at the SiGMA Africa Awards](https://www.trend-online.com/2025/03/12/hub-affiliations-premiata-miglior-affiliato-sportsbook/), and collected multiple recognitions at the [EGR Italy Awards 2024](https://www.agimeg.it/hub-affiliations-vince-due-premi-egr-awards-2024/).

The pattern isn’t coincidence. Francesco’s emphasis on compliance and genuine market insights creates trust. [Anna Maria’s editorial approach](https://richwoman.co/article/doing-the-hard-things-the-human-way-inside-the-minds-turning-brands-into-everyday-heroes) – thoughtful, connected to real needs – builds credibility over time. Their culture of responsibility and shared vision means decisions get made by people who understand both the big picture and daily realities.

Anna Maria’s background in psychology helps her understand what motivates people, both in content creation and team dynamics. Francesco’s focus on treating affiliates as consultants rather than just traffic sources creates partnerships that last.

## September Anticipation

As September approaches, there’s anticipation but not anxiety. Francesco and Anna Maria know they’ve built something solid – a company that people want to work with, content that genuinely helps their audience, and relationships based on mutual respect rather than just revenue.

Whether they win any of the seven categories, the nominations themselves represent something more valuable: confirmation that their approach – responsibility over flashiness, genuine relationships over quick transactions, thoughtful content over volume – actually works in a competitive field.

The MEO Arena in Lisbon will host 600 industry leaders on 17 September, but for Hub Affiliations, [the real celebration](https://richwoman.co/article/the-ripple-effect-of-authentic-leadership-how-one-woman-s-vision-sparked-the-path-to-self-mas) has been happening every day in the conversations, decisions and small successes that led them there.