Mandy Lubrano, AAE’s Vice President of Sales, has been making a difference for her clients and coworkers for more than a decade. We’re proud to share that this month she was named a Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 Leadership Awards winner for 2023.
In our 20-plus years, we’ve worked diligently to build a team that is bought into AAE’s values and shares a commitment to providing clients with best-in-class service. Every day we celebrate the individual and collective accomplishments of our people. When our employees are recognized externally, it makes it even more special.
“We are extremely proud of Mandy and her remarkable achievement of receiving the Triangle Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award,” said Margo Dunnigan, AAE Chief Operating Officer. “Her outstanding dedication, hard work, and exceptional talent truly set Mandy apart. This recognition is a testament to her significant contributions and the invaluable impact she’s made on AAE and her community.”
For all of us at AAE, Lubrano’s impact is unmistakable. She has delivered unparalleled service to clients on over 1,200 events, empowered her coworkers through years of mentorship and approachable leadership, and turned passion into action through giving back to her community.
Prior to becoming the fourth employee at AAE in 2012, she was a professional soccer player for the Buffalo Flash, which no doubt shaped the competitive spirit and team-first mentality she brings to the company. Lubrano was a two-time NCAA Women’s Collegiate Soccer National Champion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications.
Over the years, she has been instrumental in building AAE into the premier speaker and corporate entertainment booking agency in the country. In addition to assisting her many business and university clients with booking talent, Lubrano manages, trains, and mentors the sales team. In 2019, following many years of progressive sales growth for the company, she was promoted to vice president.
Senior Sales Manager Maddy McPeak, DES has worked closely with Lubrano for more than six years. Here’s what she had to say about the impact of Lubrano’s leadership:
“It was an honor to begin my business career at AAE and especially valuable to have worked under Mandy’s leadership these last six years. Through her mindful mentorship and relentless pursuit of excellence, Mandy has gifted me the education of a lifetime,” McPeak said. “She is as equally driven, bold, and persistent as she is inclusive, kind, and sincere. Mandy truly embodies the AAE mission and demonstrates a first-in-class, service-oriented mentality in all she does.”
In 2022 Lubrano set an all-time record for revenue generated in a year while also leading the entire sales team to a record year, with 30% growth in 2022. She works with some of today’s biggest celebrities and speakers. Her bookings in 2022 included Jessica Alba, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Hudson and Jason Sudeikis.
Outside of the office, Lubrano is dedicated to supporting charitable causes and giving back. Annually, she supports the Darren Daulton Foundation which directly supports families who have family members battling brain-related illnesses or injuries. She became involved with the organization after losing her father to brain cancer in 2015.
As part of the company’s AAE Cares charitable program, Lubrano has actively participated in and supported 2022 initiatives that benefited our local area, including a blood drive for the Blood Connection, fundraising for Durham Children’s Initiative, and a supply drive for Oak City Cares to benefit the homeless population in our community.
Lubrano’s journey at AAE is a testament to her exceptional talent, unwavering dedication, and remarkable leadership skills. As she continues to shape the future of AAE, her passion, work ethic, and ability to create meaningful connections ensure that her influence will be felt for years to come.
