What does it take to successfully manage cloud costs while aligning technical, financial, and business goals?

In this episode, I’m joined by Mike Graff, an IT veteran with over 30 years of experience and the Infrastructure Architecture Director at Dolby Laboratories. Mike brings a wealth of knowledge on navigating the intersection of FinOps and engineering, offering unique insights into how to tackle the toughest challenges in cloud cost management.

We dive into key topics, including:

• Why technical skills, business acumen, and communication are critical for FinOps success.
• The journey from tech to finance—how to balance both worlds effectively.
• The challenges of aligning FinOps goals with engineering teams and driving motivation.
• How evolving FinOps tools and a focus on sustainability are shaping the future of cloud financial operations.
• Personal insights on maintaining a balance between a high-demand career, family, and hobbies.

If you're in FinOps, cloud engineering, or just interested in how financial operations are evolving in the cloud, this episode offers a ton of valuable insights to help you navigate this fast-growing field.

Don't forget to subscribe for more expert insights into cloud cost optimization, FinOps strategies, and the future of cloud financial management!

Quote of the Show:

“ Being able to communicate effectively and distill these highly technical concepts down to something that a business person can understand is just so valuable.” - Michael Graff

Connect with Mike:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelegraff/
• Website: https://cloudyadvice.com/
• Company Website: https://www.dolby.com/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808 
• iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/ 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency