Measuring What Matters: Stefan Rieth-Hoerst at Hexagon

Allyship Leader Feature | Women Automotive Network

At the Women Automotive Network, we believe that creating lasting change in the automotive industry requires more than the voices of women alone — it takes committed allies who use their influence, platforms, and leadership to champion equality every day. Our Allyship Leader series celebrates the men and women who are actively driving inclusion forward, proving that allyship in action is one of the most powerful forces for change.

In this edition, we feature Stefan Rieth-Hoerst, Senior Director Automotive Accounts Global at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, whose 12+ year journey in the automotive sector has been marked not only by technical excellence, but by a genuine commitment to building teams where everyone belongs and where inclusion is treated as a business imperative, not a box to tick.

Above: Stefan Rieth-Hoerst, Senior Director Automotive Accounts Global, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence

Can you tell us a little about you, your background and how you got started in the automotive industry?

I studied electrical engineering and began my career in nondestructive testing, which allowed me to work across many different industries and understand how technology and people shape real-world products through the lens of quality. After several years in the oil and gas sector providing inspection services for offshore and onshore pipelines using so-called "pigs" I joined Hexagon in 2013. Over time, I shifted my focus fully toward the automotive industry, driven by my passion for everything that has an engine — I simply love cars. Today, that passion continues to inspire me as I help address key quality topics within the industry's transformation toward carbon-free mobility.

What is your current role, and what are your primary responsibilities within your organisation?

I am the Senior Director Automotive Accounts at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence. Together with my global team, I connect market needs with Hexagon's capabilities in metrology (dimensional quality measurement), helping key automotive customers accelerate their transformation. We focus on bringing people and technology together because true progress in our industry happens when both align.

How do you inspire your team and peers to embrace diversity and drive inclusive practices?

For me, it starts with respect. When people feel valued and heard, psychological safety grows and that's the strongest driver of high-performing, innovative teams.

I also try to keep things practical: everyone talks about the benefits of diverse teams, but it becomes very real when you look at your own team and realise there are no women represented. In that moment, the path forward is obvious.

So we strengthened our people-focused leadership skills, actively invited diverse perspectives, and made it a priority to open doors for women in our organisation. Good revenue numbers are simply the byproduct of doing these things right.

And to amplify this momentum, I also support the Women in Automotive Network and encourage more women from Hexagon to join.

How has fostering an inclusive culture led to tangible improvements in your organisation?

Hexagon is a Swedish company with more than €5.4 billion in annual revenue, and our Scandinavian DNA means that an inclusive culture has been part of our leadership mindset for many years. It's an ongoing process one that never truly ends, because people and industries continuously evolve.

The tangible impact shows up in how quickly and effectively we adapt to changing markets. Inclusion strengthens our ability to listen, learn, and respond, making us more agile as a global organisation.

In short: fostering an inclusive culture improves the way we work together, and that directly enhances our ability to perform in a fast-moving industry.

What do you think is holding the automotive industry back from achieving true gender parity?

I'm reminded of a quote by entrepreneur Tijen Onaran, who recently wrote on LinkedIn: "The problem isn't that women lack confidence. It's that they see how the world responds to confident women." That captures the core of the issue quite well.

In the automotive industry especially in its highly technical environments this dynamic is still present. It has nothing to do with whether someone is fundamentally capable of doing a job. But it becomes a real barrier when talented women feel they have to prove themselves not only through their skills, but also in spite of their gender.

And that is where all of us come in. We need to be more aware, more mindful, and more deliberate in how we create environments where everyone can succeed without carrying an extra burden.

I do see positive movement, especially as more leaders recognise that inclusion isn't an HR slogan but a prerequisite for attracting and keeping the best talent. The more we continue to question old patterns, the faster the industry will move toward true parity.

"Good revenue numbers are simply the byproduct of doing these things right."

— Stefan Rieth-Hoerst, Senior Director Automotive Accounts Global, Hexagon

Favourite business or leadership book?

I actually read a lot of literary classics at the moment — Thomas Mann, Dostoevsky, Hermann Hesse. They're not traditional business or leadership books, but they remind me of something essential: in the end, people matter most. These stories show how human beings think, feel, struggle, and grow and they reveal a lot about how we should (or shouldn't) treat each other. For me, that's a powerful leadership lesson.

What's a quote that has inspired you?

Erich Kästner: "There is nothing good unless you do it."

I actually first discovered it in a Donald Duck book when I was a kid long before I ever thought about leadership or business. But it has stayed with me, because it's simple and true: progress doesn't happen by talking, but by taking action.

Every era has its own challenges, including ours. And this quote reminds me to actively contribute rather than just watch. I'm genuinely excited to be part of a community of professionals who feel the same way.

About Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence

Corporate Member

At Hexagon, we don't just measure the world – we define its future. As the global leader in measurement technologies, we provide the confidence that vital industries rely on to build, navigate, and innovate. From microns to Mars, our solutions drive productivity, quality, safety, and sustainability across aerospace, agriculture, automotive, construction, manufacturing and mining.

We support automakers as they accelerate towards new, more sustainable processes and products with our connected quality ecosystem. Hexagon solutions go into the development and production of 95% of the world's passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

To learn more about Hexagon