FinOps in Action

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.

Here’s what we talked about:

• Shifting FinOps from cost savings to business value

• Embedding FinOps into AI and data platform governance

• Building a healthy FinOps culture with empathy and education

• Partnering with AWS and Databricks to drive efficiency

• Measuring ROI and optimization in AI-driven environments

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ 

 Quote of the Show:

• " A FinOps practitioner's role is to be a storyteller and to actually turn a lot of data into something that has context and is something that people can action.” -Emily Cornock

Connect with Emily:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycornock/ 
• Website: https://www.suncorpgroup.com.au/ 

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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency

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:

• How a NASA engineer found her way into FinOps

• Why focusing only on cost reduction is a common mistake

• How training builds a shared FinOps language across teams

• Why clean data and strong tagging practices are critical to success

• What makes financial concepts harder for engineers to grasp

• When to bring in external trainers vs. build programs in-house

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/  

 Quote of the Show:

• "A common mistake [I see people make] would be to just focus on reducing cost and to not really think about, ‘Well, what is our cost getting us?’" - Idaliz Baez

Connect with Idaliz:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idalizbaez/ 
• Website: https://realops.io

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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency 

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.

Here’s what we talked about:

• How Tom went from engineering to FinOps leadership

• Why FinOps is really about helping engineers make better decisions

• Lightweight enforcement and governance that actually work

• Usage-based anomaly detection and root cause tracking

• What’s new at the FinOps Foundation Technical Advisory Council

• How the FinOps Framework continues to evolve for practitioners

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.

🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/  

Quote of the Show:

• "Engineers want to do the right thing. We don't want to do a bad job. If you give them the right incentives and they're prioritized to optimize things, then things will shine." - Tom Cross

Connect with Tom:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomcross/
• Website: http://www.aerlingus.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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency

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:

• Why most teams should buy FinOps tools instead of building them

• Evaluating FinOps platforms for your size and maturity

• Building FinOps foundations early in the cloud journey

• Connecting FinOps and M&A to uncover savings and integration value

• Showing ROI and business impact with simple, scalable practices

  
  

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ 

 Quote of the Show:

• " Don't overspend and don't buy the Rolls Royce when you just need a Toyota Corolla. You don't need all the bells and whistles to get the data you need out for your organization, depending on what your use cases are.” -Peter Crenshaw

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercrenshaw/ 
• Website: http://www.iemfg.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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency

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:

• The FinOps Mandate: I explained why the official definition of FinOps is to help organizations understand the value they get from cloud investment , which boils down to cleaning up waste and driving the best business outcomes.
• FinOps is a People Work: The most common idea on my show is that FinOps cannot be successful without collaboration across engineering, executives, and finance. As I've learned, the FinOps person doesn't have the keys to the cloud, the engineers do.
• The Biggest Industry Challenge: My guests consistently highlight that the biggest challenge is engagement with engineers. With engineers juggling quality, security, performance, and now cost , it’s extremely hard to get them to act due to competing priorities and a knowledge gap.
• My Podcasting Evolution: I shared how I overcame early challenges, stopped relying on a bank of questions, and now focus on what the guest is passionate about to make the conversation fun and authentic. My one hook question for every guest is: "What is the one thing you got wrong when you started your FinOps career?"
  
  

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 

 Quote of the Show:

• “The three words [I would use to describe FinOps in Action] would be: Elevate. FinOps. Leaders.” - Alon Arvatz

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alon-arvatz    

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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency 

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.

Here’s what we talked about:

• Why commitments can make or break FinOps strategy

• How to balance speed and accuracy in anomaly detection

• What FinOps looks like in regulated industries like government cloud

• The “many hats” of a FinOps practitioner and leader

• Lessons from SAP NS2’s approach to cloud cost management

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/

 Quote of the Show:

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordondouglass/ 
• Website: https://sapns2.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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency

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:

• Why FinOps is more than usage optimization

• Negotiating AWS commitments and renewals with confidence

• How procurement and FinOps collaborate on vendor management

• Achieving 99% tagging compliance (and the Kubernetes challenge)

• Turning efficiency projects into business value

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/

 Quote of the Show:

• "You have to know what you know and know what you don't know, and understand there are other engineering experts out there in your company and use that [to make the most impact]. Right? And be a cheerleader. Make sure to celebrate their wins." - Tim Nolan

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-nolan-559a1710/ 
• Website:  https://www.datarobot.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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 

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.

Here’s what we talked about:

• How TBM and FinOps overlap (and where they differ)
• Why shadow IT is exploding in the cloud era
• Governance frameworks that actually work in FinOps
• When moving to the cloud makes sense — and when it doesn’t
• The hidden costs of SaaS and licenses most companies miss

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/

 Quote of the Show:

• " Putting things in the cloud is inexpensive. Getting things out of the cloud, data, interacting with the things in the cloud, that's where your cost is." - Peter Brauer

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrauer/ 
• Medium: https://medium.com/@p.b.brauer 
• Website: https://www.t-mobile.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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency 

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:

• How the FinOps Foundation community accelerates success

• Tips for engaging engineers and explaining the “why”

• Creating FinOps office hours to share wins and stories

• Moving from cost savings to business value in FinOps

• Building culture and collaboration inside a financial institution

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://finopsinaction.substack.com/

 Quote of the Show:

• "When someone says you're not building something right, [to engineers] that is kind of offensive. And so, I think that's where the messaging needs to change, right? It's not that engineers are not building things right, it's how do we build it to maximize value?" - Swapna Samuel

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapna-samuel-792745111/ 
• Website: http://www.bmo.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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency

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:

• Why tooling alone doesn’t solve FinOps challenges
• How FinOps is like product management
• Building scalable FinOps with champions and federated models
• Using sustainability data to motivate engineers
• Governance done right: policies, guardrails, and continuous improvement

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.

 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://finopsinaction.substack.com/

 Quote of the Show:

• "When you show somebody any data that shows that they're making a positive impact on the planet, they care. They really care. And a lot more focus is put into doing things." - Ben de Mora

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendemora/

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 
• Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ 
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency