Meeting with an IT expert

Irene Kors, a Group Product Manager at Datadog, joined us to share her career journey and insights into the tech industry. What made her story especially interesting is that she didn’t start out in tech at all. In fact, she said she initially disliked computers. After moving to the United States at 19, she taught herself software engineering, worked in the field for over a decade, and eventually transitioned into product management.

Throughout her career, Irene has worked across multiple industries including media, finance, energy, and cloud computing, with roles at companies like PayPal, AWS, and The New York Times. Today, she leads Datadog’s Application Performance Monitoring (APM) product, managing a team of product managers and working closely with engineers to build tools that help companies monitor and improve their software systems.

The quote I loved

“Technology by itself is useless. It becomes interesting when you apply it to a specific industry.”

Irene shared that one of the most important parts of her career has been learning not just technology, but the industries she works in. When she moved into finance, she even earned a Series 7 license to better understand the field. Point being, the real value comes from combining technical skills with real-world context.

Actionable insights

• You don’t need a computer science degree to succeed in tech
  Irene is a self-taught engineer. While a technical background can help, it’s not required. What matters more is curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn.

• Learn how to learn
  According to Irene, the most important skill you can develop is the ability to figure things out on your own. People who succeed are not the ones who know everything, but the ones who can learn anything when needed.

• Understand the “why” behind what you’re building
  As a product manager, Irene spends a lot of time talking to customers. Her goal is to understand what they actually need, not just what they say they want. This deeper understanding is what leads to better products.

• Basic tech literacy is essential in any career
  Even if you don’t plan to become a developer, you should understand how software works. Technology is now part of every industry, and having that foundation will give you an advantage.

• Preparation is what makes you stand out in interviews
  Irene shared an example of a candidate who came to an interview with detailed suggestions for improving the product. That level of preparation made a huge impression and ultimately helped her get hired.

• Ask better questions in interviews
  Instead of asking general questions about company culture, focus on the role itself. For example:

  • What does success look like in the first six months?

  • What are the biggest challenges in this role?

  • What would my first project be?

• Be proactive, not passive
  Irene looks for people who take initiative and don’t wait to be told what to do. Being self-driven is one of the most valuable traits in any field.

• AI is changing the tech industry quickly
  Irene explained that AI is already speeding up how products are built and tested. While it may replace some repetitive tasks, it also creates new opportunities. The key is to stay adaptable and keep learning.

• There are many paths within tech
  If coding isn’t the right fit, there are still many related careers such as product management, sales, customer success, and marketing.

Final thoughts

One of the most interesting parts of Irene’s talk was her perspective on AI and what it means for the future of tech careers.

There’s a lot of uncertainty right now. Some people predict massive job loss, while others think AI is overhyped. Irene’s view was somewhere in the middle. AI will likely replace more repetitive, lower-level tasks, especially in software engineering, but it won’t eliminate the need for skilled people. Instead, it will raise the bar.

What’s already changing is speed. With AI tools, teams can prototype faster, test ideas more quickly, and ship products in a fraction of the time it used to take. That means fewer people may be needed for basic tasks, but those who understand systems deeply and can think critically will become even more valuable.

So will IT still be relevant in a few years? According to Irene, absolutely. In fact, it may become even more important. But the nature of the work is shifting. It’s no longer just about writing code. It’s about understanding problems, using the right tools, and continuously learning as the field evolves.