In the evolving story of European industry, the role of women in leadership is no longer an exception but an increasingly important reality. Among those shaping this transformation is Elisabetta Bragagni, engineer and CEO within the Tratos Group, whose career reflects the continuity of an industrial legacy combined with the courage to innovate.
Born into a family deeply rooted in manufacturing, Elisabetta represents the third generation of leadership connected to the origins of Tratos, the cable manufacturing company founded in 1966 by Egidio Capaccini and later developed into a global industrial group. Today, together with her brother Ennio and under the guidance of their father Albano Bragagni, she continues a tradition that has kept its headquarters in the Valtiberina while expanding internationally. 
After completing her engineering studies, Elisabetta joined the company more than fifteen years ago, beginning her career in the United Kingdom. That experience allowed her to understand the mechanics of a global industrial business from the ground up and to appreciate the responsibility that comes with working in a family enterprise. 
Her leadership reflects a simple but powerful philosophy: in a family business, responsibility is never smaller—it is greater. The company is not only an organisation; it is a legacy to be protected and a future to be built.
Industry, Innovation and People
As CEO within the Tratos Group, Elisabetta has been involved in guiding a company that designs and manufactures advanced electrical and fibre-optic cables used in energy infrastructure, telecommunications, and industrial applications worldwide. The group controls a vertically integrated production chain—from conductors and insulating compounds to optical fibres and finished cables—allowing it to maintain technological independence and industrial resilience. 
Her management approach emphasises three core priorities:
• Innovation and engineering excellence, ensuring that Tratos continues to contribute to the modernisation of energy networks and communications infrastructure.
• People and community, recognising that industrial success depends on the well-being and development of employees and their families.
• Global responsibility, navigating international markets while maintaining the cultural identity of a family enterprise rooted in Tuscany.
During challenging periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Elisabetta also emphasised the human dimension of business leadership, implementing initiatives to support employees and their families, including access to rapid testing and health support.
Women and Leadership in Industry
Elisabetta’s role also carries a symbolic dimension. The presence of women in engineering and industrial leadership remains limited, particularly in sectors traditionally dominated by men, such as heavy manufacturing and energy infrastructure.
Her career demonstrates that competence, commitment, and vision—not gender—define leadership. As vice president of the industrial association of the province of Arezzo, she has contributed to strengthening dialogue between companies, institutions, and the next generation of entrepreneurs. 
A Legacy Looking Forward
For Elisabetta Bragagni, the future of Tratos is both a challenge and a responsibility. Global markets are increasingly complex, technological transitions are accelerating, and energy infrastructure is becoming more strategic than ever.
Yet some principles remain constant.
The values transmitted by previous generations—industrial independence, long-term thinking, and respect for work—continue to guide the company today.
In this sense, Elisabetta’s story is not simply the story of a business leader. It is the story of a new generation of entrepreneurs who combine engineering competence, global vision, and a deep sense of responsibility toward people, territory, and the future.
And in doing so, she demonstrates that the future of industry will not only be built by innovation, but by leadership rooted in values.
