What does it really take to drive action in FinOps…. without chasing engineers?
In this re-air episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Dann Berg, Cloud FinOps Lead at Squarespace, to revisit one of our most practical and mindset-shifting conversations. Dann shares how the most effective FinOps teams create accountability without micromanagement, shorten feedback loops for engineers, and build trust across engineering, finance, and leadership.
Whether you’re building a FinOps practice from scratch or trying to move beyond reactive cost optimization, this conversation offers a timeless blueprint for driving real behavior change.
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What did the world’s top FinOps practitioners learn in 2025? What should you change in your practice heading into 2026?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down to talk through key takeaways from 2025. I look back on dozens of interviews with FinOps leaders across industries to surface the four most repeated and most impactful insights from this year. Whether you’re scaling a new FinOps practice or leveling up a mature one, these insights will help you drive deeper engineering alignment, stronger executive support, and more business value in 2026.
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How do leading companies shift FinOps from cost-cutting to strategic business value?
In this special compilation episode of FinOps in Action, we tackle one of the toughest challenges facing FinOps programs: showing business value to gain executive buy-in for the FinOps program.
Featuring:
Emily Cornock - Suncorp Group
Zach Johnson - Splunk
Tammy Burnitt - UiPath
Erik Norman - British Airways
Amy Race - Citizens Bank
These experts share how they tackle the shift from simple cost-cutting to value-showing. From drafting elevator value pitches to consistent executive involvement, these stories and strategies are guaranteed to get you thinking about the value of FinOps.
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Is “death by dashboard” holding your FinOps program back more than you realize?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Gilad Katz, FinOps Lead at Riskified, to explore why world-class FinOps isn’t about knowing every technical detail or pushing engineers to make changes; it’s about neutrality, trust, and telling the right story with data.
Gilad describes the moment he realized that trying to “know everything” in cloud infrastructure was slowing him down and why the real turning point in his career happened when he shifted from feeling pressure to recommend solutions to embracing his role as the person who brings clarity, context, and facts. As he puts it, “I’m not a recommendation guy, I’m a data guy.” That mindset reshaped the way he collaborates with engineering and finance, and why the most important part of FinOps work is often diplomacy, not technical expertise.
We also talk about what happens when cloud costs spike, why looking backward slows teams down, and how practicing FinOps “with a smile” builds long-term credibility. Gilad pulls back the curtain on how Riskified manages monthly business reviews, how he keeps engineers engaged without blame, and why empathy and composure often matter more than technical mastery.
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How do you turn FinOps from a reporting function into part of the company’s operating system?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Zach Johnson, Head of FinOps & Cloud Platforms at Splunk to unpack why world-class FinOps isn’t about dashboards or reports, it’s about business value, executive alignment, and proactive decision-making.
Zach shares how one of his earliest lessons in FinOps was realizing that “presenting data isn’t the same as solving the problem.” That insight shaped the way he approaches communication with engineering, finance, and the C-suite and why the right metric depends entirely on who’s in the room. He explains why executives care more about unit economics and unallocated spend than tagging compliance, and how connecting cloud usage to business outcomes changes how organizations prioritize optimization.
We also dive into why rate optimization drives the biggest impact at scale, how Zach’s team uses AI-generated insights and Slack automation to make FinOps proactive rather than reactive, and why people skills often matter more than technical depth when driving adoption. From building monthly business reviews to modeling commitment purchases with data science, Zach offers a transparent look into how Splunk achieves over $100M in annual cloud savings.
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Are you treating FinOps like a one-time project instead of an ongoing value engine?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Borja Martínez, EMEA FinOps Lead at NTT DATA Inc, to explore why successful FinOps starts with understanding your company’s business context, not just its cloud bill.
Borja shared how his unconventional path from 12 years as a professional basketball player to FinOps leader shaped the way he views teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement. He explains why two companies with the same cloud footprint may need completely different FinOps strategies, and why knowing whether your organization sees cloud as a cost center or a growth driver changes everything.
We also cover why cost optimization is never really “done,” how to shift conversations from cost to value, and why FinOps data (even if not the FinOps person) must have a seat at the executive table. From low-hanging fruit to advanced architectural efficiency, Borja brings practical guidance for any FinOps practitioner looking to evolve their program.
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Is “cost optimization” the wrong goal for FinOps?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Erik Norman, FinOps Lead at British Airways, to unpack why true FinOps maturity isn’t about cutting costs, it’s about creating value.
Erik shared how a disastrous “do not delete” incident early in his FinOps career shaped his philosophy: that understanding business context and risk matters more than chasing quick savings.
He also explains why tagging isn’t a strategy, why executive sponsorship makes or breaks FinOps success, and how shifting FinOps left into architecture and design can prevent costly mistakes before they happen.
From challenging the Iron Triangle to redefining what it means to “follow the value,” Erik brings a mix of hard-earned lessons, humor, and practical wisdom that every FinOps and engineering leader will appreciate.
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Can empathy, sales skills, and gamification be the secret to driving FinOps success?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Tammy Burnitt, Director of FinOps at UiPath. Tammy discussed her 25 years of experience in IT and capacity management and how she founded the FinOps program during her time at Shell.
Tammy shared how she transformed resistance into engagement, proving that FinOps success is as much about people and persuasion as it is about data and dollars.
We also covered the mindset shifts and leadership skills needed to “sell” FinOps internally, from empathy and active listening to aligning with business value and executive goals.
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Can enforcing a simple tagging strategy transform your entire FinOps program?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Amy Race, Head of Infrastructure, Cost Management, and Cloud FinOps at Citizens Bank, to dive into how her company moved 99% to the cloud.
Amy shared how her team went from inconsistent tagging and cloud chaos to a structured, scalable FinOps practice. She explains how clear ownership, executive buy-in, and automation helped enforce a 100% tagging policy.
We also covered how making FinOps fun by introducing leaderboards, badges, and recognition turns FinOps into a company-wide movement.
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How do you balance cost optimization, business value, and innovation in the age of AI?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Emily Cornock, Executive Manager of Core Data Platforms and Cloud FinOps at Suncorp Group, to explore how her team is embedding FinOps principles into everything they build — from data platforms to AI systems.
Emily shares her journey from early cloud adoption to becoming a FinOps leader, including how she shifted conversations from “why is it costing so much?” to “what value are we getting from this?”
We also discuss how Suncorp builds FinOps into its AI and data DNA, the realities of managing large-scale data platforms, and how empathy and education transform FinOps from “the bad guys” into trusted partners.
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If you’re working on FinOps in complex data or AI environments, this episode offers a masterclass in how to align cost, performance, and business impact.
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What does good FinOps look like inside a large engineering organization?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Idaliz Baez, Founder and Director of RealOps, who has one of the most fascinating journeys into FinOps — from contamination engineer at NASA to FinOps instructor and leader.
Idaliz has trained more than 200 FinOps practitioners worldwide and brings a unique perspective on how education and awareness can unlock collaboration across engineering, finance, and procurement teams.
We dive into:
If you're growing your FinOps team, building better collaboration between tech and finance, or just starting your FinOps journey, this episode gives you the mindset and methods to build smarter from day one.
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What does good FinOps look like inside a large engineering organization?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Tom Cross, FinOps Lead at Aer Lingus and a member of the FinOps Foundation Technical Advisory Council, to talk about building FinOps culture, engaging engineers, and shaping the global FinOps framework.
Tom shared how he transitioned from software engineering to FinOps leadership, why optimization became his passion, and how he balances governance with empathy to drive adoption without slowing delivery.
We also discussed what’s next for the FinOps Framework, how usage-based anomaly detection is changing cost management, and why the future of FinOps is as much about relationships as it is about data.
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If you’re leading a FinOps practice or trying to make engineering collaboration part of your culture, this episode is full of practical, hard-won insights.
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Should you build your own FinOps tool or buy one?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Peter Crenshaw, Manager of FinOps and M&A at IEM, to unpack one of the biggest questions I hear from FinOps leaders everywhere: when does it make sense to build, and when should you buy?
Peter shared his journey leading FinOps at UKG and IEM, including what he learned from building an in-house FinOps platform and why simplicity, scalability, and resource awareness matter more than any feature list.
We also dove into how FinOps connects with M&A, how to educate teams across finance and engineering, and what it really takes to show ROI — even when your FinOps practice is still maturing.
Here’s what we talked about:
If you’ve ever wondered where to start with FinOps tooling or how to build the right foundations for scale, this episode is packed with hard-won lessons and practical guidance.
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Is hosting a podcast really just about questions and prep work or is it more about building a community, elevating leaders, and learning to listen?
In this special bonus live stream for National Podcast Day, I, Alon Arvatz, stepped into the guest seat to be interviewed by Casey Cheshire. After nearly 50 hours of conversations, I shared my journey and my biggest takeaways from interviewing top FinOps leaders this year.
We explored the core of what FinOps truly is and what it takes to drive action:
If you're a FinOps practitioner who needs a platform to learn and grow, or if you're trying to figure out how to drive real engagement with your engineering teams—this conversation is packed with personal stories and industry insights.
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What does FinOps look like in highly regulated industries — and why is speed so critical when managing commitments and anomalies?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Gordon Douglass, VP of Cloud Assets & Risk Management at SAP NS2, to talk about the real-world challenges of running FinOps in government and enterprise-scale environments.
Gordon shares why commitments are one of the scariest parts of FinOps, how to balance anomaly detection with meaningful action, and what it means to wear “many hats” as a FinOps leader. He also explains how regulations, procurement, and engineering collaboration add layers of complexity — and how to navigate them successfully.
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"We have regular cadences both internally within my group itself in addition to that also with engineering and operations, just to see and make sure that they understand or can justify what's going on. " - Gordon DouglassLinks:
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Is FinOps only about cloud usage optimization or does it go deeper?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I was joined by Tim Nolan, Senior FinOps Engineer at DataRobot, who saved over $1M in AWS costs in just four months and achieved 99% tagging compliance.
Tim shares his journey from engineering to IT finance to FinOps, and why negotiation skills, procurement partnerships, and tagging discipline are just as critical to FinOps success as cloud cost visibility. He explains how to approach AWS renewals, build efficiency projects that scale, and why engineers and FinOps must work hand-in-hand.
Here’s what we talked about:
If you’re navigating cloud negotiations, tackling tagging compliance, or partnering with procurement—this episode is full of practical FinOps insights you can apply today.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency
Is cloud always the right move? And what happens when governance is missing?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Peter Brauer, Senior Enterprise Architect at T-Mobile, who has led FinOps governance frameworks responsible for over $150M in savings.
Peter shares lessons from his transition from TBM (Technology Business Management) to FinOps, and why shadow IT has become one of the most overlooked yet critical costs in the cloud era. He explains why governance isn’t just rules but remediation and flexibility, and why not everything belongs in the cloud despite the hype.
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How do you build a FinOps practice that actually engages engineers, delivers business value, and grows with the help of the community?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Swapna Samuel, Head of FinOps and Clarity Business Management at BMO and FinOps Foundation Ambassador, to explore how culture, collaboration, and community have been key drivers in her FinOps journey.
Swapna shares how joining the FinOps Foundation helped her avoid common pitfalls, why engaging engineers with transparency and the “why” is crucial, and how BMO uses office hours to create a safe space for collaboration. She also dives into her passion topic: business value — why cost alone isn’t the full picture, and how to build KPIs that truly measure impact.
Here’s what we talked about:
If you're trying to scale a FinOps practice, engage engineering teams, and reduce cloud waste—this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now.
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Is FinOps really just about dashboards and tools, or is it more about people, culture, and governance?
In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Ben de Mora, former FinOps Lead at GitLab, to explore how FinOps needs to evolve beyond tooling into governance, collaboration, and product management thinking.
Ben shares his unique journey from security and engineering into FinOps, and explains why champions programs, federated FinOps models, and executive sponsorship are essential for success at scale. He also dives into how sustainability metrics can engage engineers, and why policies and governance need to evolve — not just be written once and forgotten.
Here’s what we talked about:
If you're trying to scale a FinOps practice, engage engineering teams, and reduce cloud waste—this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now.
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Where can a FinOps career take you? And how do the roles differ between small companies, global enterprises, and vendors?
In this special episode of FinOps in Action, I sat down with Taylor Houck, FinOps Specialist and co-creator of the Cloud Efficiency Hub at PointFive, to trace his career journey across the FinOps landscape: starting as a practitioner at a mid-sized company, scaling cost optimization at NBCUniversal, and now working on the vendor side.
Taylor shares the pros and cons of each career path, what he learned along the way, and how the FinOps role changes depending on scale, complexity, and organizational goals. Whether you’re just getting started or considering your next move, this episode is a roadmap for building a FinOps career that lasts.
Here’s what we talked about:
If you're trying to scale a FinOps practice, engage engineering teams, and reduce cloud waste—this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now.
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