Interview by Jennifer Kite-Powell, Head of Content at Okens and Ilkari
At Ilkari, our products aren’t just built—they’re shaped by a mission: to give people full control over their digital lives. So, who better to talk to than the person making that mission real every day?
I sat down with Agnieszka Werte, our Head of Product, to talk about building with intention, listening to customers, and why thoughtful growth beats rapid scaling any day.
Jennifer: Agnieszka, as Head of Product at Ilkari, what’s the most important part of your role?
Agnieszka: For me, it’s making sure everything we build supports our mission—helping customers take full control of their data. That means really understanding what people need, then turning those needs into secure, practical solutions. It’s also about finding the right pace to grow—staying focused on long-term impact without losing who we are as a company.
Jennifer: What’s been the biggest challenge of building products at a startup?
Agnieszka: Doing things well without rushing. It’s easy to feel pressure to grow fast, but we’re careful not to sacrifice quality. We focus on what brings real value now, and we’re thoughtful about how we use our time and energy.
Jennifer: What’s the heartbeat of your product strategy?
Agnieszka: Always the customer. Everything we build comes from listening—especially when it comes to privacy, control, and security. Data sovereignty isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s the reason we exist.
Jennifer: And what are the key products you’re responsible for?
Agnieszka: I guide our three main areas:
- Our colocation services, which scale with customer needs
- Our cloud platform, designed for control and flexibility
- Our domain services, which protect digital identity and privacy
Each one plays a role in helping our customers own their digital assets, fully and confidently.
Jennifer: How do you balance technical limits with customer expectations?
Agnieszka: That’s always a dance! We work closely with engineering to make sure they understand why a customer needs something—not just what they’re asking for. At the same time, we’re transparent with our customers about what’s realistic today and what’s coming next. It keeps everyone aligned and working together.
Jennifer: Do you expect things to shift?
Agnieszka: Definitely. We aim for long-term stability, but we know things will change—whether it’s the market, regulations, or customers’ goals. We build with flexibility in mind and try to learn as we go.
Jennifer: You’ve been doing this a while—how has tech changed product development over the last decade?
Agnieszka: It’s got faster and way more collaborative. Thanks to cloud platforms, automation, and better tools, teams can launch quickly and iterate often. You don’t need a giant company to build something meaningful anymore.
Jennifer: What’s shifted most in the broader IT world?
Agnieszka: A few things stand out:
- The cloud became the norm—but now people want more control, so sovereign and hybrid clouds are on the rise.
- Security and privacy are no longer optional—they’re front and center.
- AI and automation have gone from “innovation” to “everyday tools.”
- And globally, people are starting to demand more transparency around data ownership.
Jennifer: What trends are driving product thinking right now?
Agnieszka:
- A big one is data sovereignty—people want to know where their data is and who has access to it.
- Companies are leaning into open-source and modular systems to avoid being locked in.
- There’s a lot more attention on green, energy-efficient infrastructure.
- And everyone’s looking for scalable, flexible platforms that can grow with them.
Jennifer: Last one—how do you see your role in Ilkari’s bigger picture?
Agnieszka: My job is to turn our mission into something real. That means products that are useful, secure, and built to last. If our customers feel like they’re truly in control—and like our products are growing with them—then we’ve done our job. And that’s what helps Ilkari grow too, without losing the culture and care that brought us here in the first place.
Jennifer: I love that—thank you, Agnieszka!
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