Engineering Enterprise FinOps ft. Piotr Kuczmera | Ep # 72

Engineering Enterprise FinOps ft. Piotr Kuczmera | Ep # 72

What if the biggest mistake your FinOps program makes is skipping the requirements phase entirely? In this episode of FinOps in Action, host Taylor Houck sits down with Piotr Kuczmera, Head of FinOps at ZF Group, to unpack how he built a FinOps practice from scratch at a 150,000 person global enterprise, and why the first question every organization should ask is not "how do we cut costs" but "what exactly do we need?" Piotr shares how a single report request from his manager five years ago turned into a full scale internal FinOps platform, a hub and spoke operating model across 15 to 20 business units, and a team built on the combination of FinOps practitioners and data engineers working side by side. Here is what they covered:  * Why FinOps is more than cost savings. Piotr explains that equating FinOps with cost optimization alone leads to failed implementations, and that starting with a clear requirements conversation, like a tailor fitting a suit to the right occasion, is what sets a practice up for long term success. * How chargeback became the turning point. When ZF connected individual names to specific budgets and sent real invoices, something clicked. Engineers and budget holders stopped asking about aggregate project spend and started asking "why am I paying this much and how do I reduce it?" * The case for building your own platform. ZF evaluated the major third party FinOps tools and walked away. Licensing costs, limited multi-cloud support, and a lack of flexibility in adapting to existing finance and procurement processes all pointed toward a homegrown solution built on native cloud tooling and a BI layer they already owned. * The hub and spoke model for FinOps at scale. At the center sits a core team of FinOps consultants and data engineers. In each business unit, a nominated budget owner and a FinOps champion bridge the gap between central strategy and local execution. * AI for FinOps, not just FinOps for AI. Piotr is most energized by how AI can automate repetitive FinOps workflows and take recommendations beyond basic CPU and memory parameters to consider commitment connections, usage patterns, and resource families all at once. He also sees FinOps as a function that should open doors for AI adoption, not slow it down. * FinOps as connective tissue. Across financial colleagues, engineering teams, and business managers, Piotr sees FinOps as the function responsible for translating the right information to the right persona, not flooding finance with VM data, and not giving engineers a budget variance they cannot act on. Chapters: 01:27 Meet Piotr Kuczmera  02:14 FinOps Is Not Just Cost Savings  03:30 Building Trust Across Departments  05:00 The FinOps Team Structure at ZF Group  08:00 Hub and Spoke: Champions and Budget Owners  10:00 Scale and Cadence Across 15 to 20 Categories  12:00 Back to the Beginning: One Report at a Time  14:00 Build vs Buy: The Platform Decision  18:00 Why Ownership of Data Changes Everything  21:00 Chargeback as the Accountability Switch  23:00 Translating FinOps Across Personas  25:00 FinOps as Connective Tissue  26:00 AI for FinOps and FinOps for AI  29:00 Treating AI Spend Like Any Other Cloud Service  30:00 What the Well Tailored FinOps Suit Looks Like in One Year  31:00 From Math Degree to FinOps Leader  33:00 Advice for Early Career FinOps Professionals  34:00 Where to Find Piotr Quote of the Show: * "Stay humble and don't be afraid of challenges." -- Piotr Kuczmera 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations: https://www.finopsinaction.com/ [https://www.finopsinaction.com/] Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piotr-kuczmera-59b39712a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piotr-kuczmera-59b39712a/] * Website: https://www.zf.com/usa_canada/en/home/home.html [https://www.zf.com/usa_canada/en/home/home.html] Ways to Tune In: * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808]  * iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339]  * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t [https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t]  * Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ [https://finopsinaction.substack.com/]  * Transistor: finopsinaction.com [http://finopsinaction.com]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFive_Inc [https://www.youtube.com/@PointFive_Inc]

Effective Cloud Collaboration ft. Chitra Jadhav | Ep # 71

Are "bad tagging" and "unused resources" really the problem, or just the symptoms of a bigger one? In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with senior FinOps manager Chitra Jadhav to explore what it truly takes to build a FinOps practice that lasts not just one that generates a list of recommendations nobody acts on. Drawing on eight years of building FinOps programs from the ground up across six or more organizations, Chitra explains how governance, culture, and cross functional collaboration are the real foundations of cloud cost optimization and why FinOps is only as powerful as the trust and authority an organization is willing to give it. From Architecture Review Boards to Production Readiness Reviews, this conversation unpacks how FinOps can embed itself into the engineering lifecycle before waste ever happens, and why the shift to AI spend makes getting those basics right more urgent than ever.   Here’s what we talked about: * Why organizational recognition and governance are the prerequisites for any FinOps program to succeed * How to assess FinOps maturity using the FinOps Foundation framework as a starting point * Why FinOps is a team sport and how to engage finance, engineering, procurement, and application teams * What ARBs and Production Readiness Reviews are and how FinOps earns a seat at the table * How to approach optimization when native cloud provider recommendations run dry * The importance of the FinOps champion model when working across large engineering organizations Chapters: 00:47 Meet Chitra Jadhav 01:56 Why FinOps Matters 03:37 Starting From Scratch 03:52 Maturity Assessment Basics 04:48 Stakeholder Engagement Model 05:56 Where FinOps Reports 07:16 Defining Governance 08:14 FinOps Checkpoints ARB PRR 10:42 What Is an ARB 12:51 Running ARB Without Bloat 16:38 Shift Left to Optimization 18:22 Champion Model and Visibility 21:05 Authority Trust and Culture 25:29 Realistic Goals and Commitments 29:20 Beyond Native Recommendations AI 33:02 AI Spend and Future Wrap  🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ [https://www.finopsinaction.com/]  Quote of the Show: "Instead of paying that money and incurring that waste, you are taking some steps proactively by making sure that you are present at these discussions." - Chitra Jadhav Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chitrajadhav/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chitrajadhav/]  * Website: https://www.rogers.com/ [https://www.rogers.com/]  Ways to Tune In: * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808]  * iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339]  * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t [https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t]  * Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ [https://finopsinaction.substack.com/]  * Transistor: finopsinaction.com [http://finopsinaction.com]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFive_Inc [https://www.youtube.com/@PointFive_Inc]

Engineering Meets FinOps ft. Matan Ben-Ishay, Credit Karma | Ep #70

What if your biggest cloud inefficiency isn’t how much you’re using, but how long your workloads are running? In this special episode of FinOps in Action, PointFive’s Co-Founder and CPO, Gal Ben David sits down with Matan Ben-Ishay, leading FP&A, Engineering, and Cloud Infrastructure at Credit Karma, to unpack a real world cloud efficiency discovery that led to tens of millions of dollars in savings without reducing usage or cutting performance. Matan shares how a simple assumption about “cheaper” CPUs quietly inflated costs, why billing data alone didn’t reveal the problem, and how true FinOps impact only happens when finance and engineering work side by side. We also covered how FinOps wins happen at the intersection of finance, engineering, and product and how understanding accounting concepts is a career advantage in FinOps.   Here’s what we talked about: * How a hidden GCP dataflow inefficiency cost tens of millions until Matan sat with engineers and discovered faster CPUs actually cost less per hour * Why rigid governance policies backfire and how flexible guidelines that encourage engineers to evaluate their actual workload needs prevent waste * Why FinOps professionals need to understand accounting concepts (depreciation, amortization, commitments) * The emerging need for cloud efficiency engineers embedded in teams who can bridge the gap between FinOps strategy and hands on optimization work * How running parallel tests of old vs. new approaches proves value to skeptical engineers and turns short-term testing costs into long-term savings * The structural friction between engineering OKRs (focused on launches and reliability) and cost efficiency, and why engineers should treat cloud spend like any other company resource Chapters: 00:00 FinOps Is Everyone’s Job 00:16 Special Episode Setup 01:27 Meet Matan Ben-Ishay 02:14 The Incentives Mistake 05:12 Speed vs Cost in AI 07:30 How to Motivate Engineers 10:19 Scaling Best Practices Org-Wide 13:27 Where FinOps Should Sit 18:02 Guardrails and Shared Ownership 20:55 Fleet Guardrails Matter 21:38 Hidden Waste Over Time 22:47 Can We Prevent Waste 25:56 Tactical vs Strategic Waste 27:00 FinOps on GCP Reality 29:14 Commitment Forecasting Playbook 32:30 FinOps Parenting Hacks 35:31 Personal Picks and Growth 37:53 Closing and Where to Connect 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ [https://www.finopsinaction.com/]  Quote of the Show: * “We need those cloud efficiency engineers in order to understand.” - Matan Ben-Ishay Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matan-ben-ishay/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matan-ben-ishay/]  * Website: https://www.creditkarma.com/ [https://www.creditkarma.com/]  Ways to Tune In: * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808]  * iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339]  * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t [https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t]  * Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ [https://finopsinaction.substack.com/]  * Transistor: finopsinaction.com [http://finopsinaction.com]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency [https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency]

How to Make Shared Data Costs Transparent at Scale ft. Oliver Milke, TD | Ep #69

How do you make cloud data costs transparent and actionable when thousands of users share the same platform? In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Oliver Milke from TD, who shares how he built a Data FinOps practice from the ground up inside a large financial institution, starting as a team of one and scaling into a dedicated function. Coming from a background in economics and finance, Oliver offers a unique perspective on cloud cost optimization. Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, his team goes one level deeper: tracking and allocating costs at the data layer, down to individual tables, workloads, and user groups. The conversation explores why traditional FinOps models fall short for shared data platforms, how transparency drives accountability, and what it takes to operationalize cost awareness across thousands of users. Oliver also breaks down the role of education, chargeback, and engineering collaboration in building a sustainable FinOps practice.   Here’s what we talked about: * What “Data FinOps” is and how it differs from traditional FinOps * Why shared data platforms require a fundamentally different cost model * Building cost visibility down to the table and workload level * Moving from showback to chargeback and how it shifts user behavior * Platform vs. workload-level optimization strategies * The role of education and change management in FinOps success Chapters: 00:00 - Data FinOps Origins 00:20 - Show Intro Guest Setup 01:40 - What Is Data FinOps 03:37 - Cloud Migration Spark 05:03 - Finance Mindset Meets Engineering 06:22 - FinOps Hub Cost Transparency 07:59 - Monthly Reviews And Chargeback 10:09 - Optimization Strategy Overview 12:17 - Databricks Efficiency Playbook 17:31 - Spot Instances Adoption 19:45 - Education As A Pillar 23:24 - Building The FinOps Team 25:59 - Advice For New Practitioners 28:06 - AI In FinOps Next Wave 30:55 - Running For Campfire Circle 33:03 - Closing And Where To Connect  🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ [https://www.finopsinaction.com/]  Quote of the Show: “We recognized that this cannot be a one-off, but it needs to be a permanent ongoing thing.” - Oliver Milke Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-milke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-milke/]  * Website: https://www.td.com/us/en/personal-banking [https://www.td.com/us/en/personal-banking]  Ways to Tune In: * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808]  * iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339]  * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t [https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t]  * Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ [https://finopsinaction.substack.com/]  * Transistor: finopsinaction.com [http://finopsinaction.com]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFive_Inc [https://www.youtube.com/@PointFive_Inc]

Why Cloud Costs Are an Architecture Problem ft. Shailaja Beeram | Ep #68

Are “idle resources” really the problem, or just the easiest one to fix? In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with cloud architect and engineer Shailaja Beeram to explore a fundamentally different perspective: cost inefficiencies don’t start in the billing file, but in architectural decisions made long before deployment. Drawing on over 15 years of experience across AWS, Azure, and GCP, Shailaja explains how the way systems are designed, scaled, and evolved over time has a far greater impact on cloud spend than most teams realize. From “zombie” networking resources to overlooked outbound traffic patterns, this conversation unpacks the hidden layers of cloud cost and why FinOps and architecture must converge to solve them.   Here’s what we talked about: * Why cloud inefficiencies often stem from architecture and not just unused resources * How NAT Gateways and private endpoints quietly drive unnecessary spend * What “zombie resources” are and how they accumulate over time * Why background traffic can mask true resource idleness * The importance of revisiting architectural decisions as systems evolve * The growing convergence of FinOps and cloud architecture Chapters: 00:00 - Architecture Drives Cost 00:34 - Meet the Guest Architect 01:46 - When Cost Became the Job 03:04 - Networking Zombie Resources 05:32 - NAT Gateway Design Traps 07:11 - Spotting Hidden Traffic 10:34 - Azure Functions NAT Story 12:30 - Private Endpoints and Drift 16:53 - Shift Left Cost Awareness 19:20 - Balancing Risk and Cost 22:46 - Advice for Both Sides 26:41 - AI Impact on FinOps 27:53 - Volunteering and Closing 30:37 - Outro and Sponsor  🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ [https://www.finopsinaction.com/]  Quote of the Show: * “FinOps… it doesn’t need to be separated. It should be a part of how you think about the architecture.” - Shailaja Beeram Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shailaja-beeram-82324310a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shailaja-beeram-82324310a/]  Ways to Tune In: * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55 [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f25a9d18-c12f-4ee4-93f5-2aa96e509b55]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808]  * iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/268443483/]  * Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339 [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/finops-in-action-5958339]  * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t [https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t]  * Substack: https://finopsinaction.substack.com/ [https://finopsinaction.substack.com/]  * Transistor: finopsinaction.com [http://finopsinaction.com]  * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency [https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency]