We explore how to build a strong FinOps culture, overcome cloud cost challenges, track progress with actionable KPIs, leverage observability, and apply AI to drive smarter cloud financial operations with expert insights from Amit Khina from DoIt

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:00:52) - What a good FinOps culture looks like
• (00:03:46) - Key Challenges and Barriers to Implementing FinOps
• (00:06:04) - How to Measure FinOps Progress: Metrics and KPIs
• (00:08:23) - Making Unit Economics Actionable for Business Impact
• (00:12:20) - How Observability Enhances FinOps and Cost Optimization
• (00:21:30) - AI in FinOps: Real Benefits vs Overhyped Use Cases
• (00:27:06) - Automation vs Human Judgment in FinOps
• (00:31:03) - Shifting from Cost Cutting to Business Value in FinOps
• (00:34:25) - The Future of FinOps: FOCUS Standard Adoption and Evolution
• (00:37:37) - Conclusion

Learn the top FinOps strategies, KPIs, and quick wins to optimize AI workloads, cut hidden costs, and maximize business value.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:01:25) - How to make AI workloads more efficient?
• (00:03:25) - Early warning signs of rising AI spend
• (00:07:25) - How work with AI
• (00:18:43) - FinOps and AI evolution
• (00:28:49) - Best AI KPIs to track for FinOps
• (00:34:30) - Its is Worth it?
• (00:43:03) - How can FinOps practitioners increase business value?

Discover the key cloud and Kubernetes trends shaping 2025! Learn how modernization, FinOps, and open-source tools are transforming DevOps and cost optimization. Gain insights into customer demands, Kubernetes challenges, and the future of cloud efficiency.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:02:10) - Cloud Intelligence Dashboards Overview
• (00:03:04) - Multi-Cloud Cost Management
• (00:05:23) - Customer Collaboration and Development
• (00:10:51) - Architecture and Technical Details
• (00:16:02) - Future Trends and Predictions
• (00:26:11) - Customer Trends and Requests for 2025
• (00:26:55) - Cloud Migration and Cost Optimization
• (00:28:08) - Modernization and DevOps Practices
• (00:30:08) - Ephemeral Environments and Kubernetes
• (00:34:16) - Challenges and Learning Curves in Kubernetes
• (00:38:39) - Open Source Tools and Community
• (00:42:39) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Explore the challenges and nuances of managing cloud costs across different platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. Learn about the importance of certifications, automation, and optimization in FinOps, and discover the critical need for deep cloud knowledge to avoid unexpected costs and inefficiencies.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:04:00) - Early Days of Cloud
• (00:12:49) - On-Premises vs Cloud Cost Differences
• (00:18:52) - Differences Between AWS and Google Cloud
• (00:20:24) - Understanding Elastic Block Store
• (00:21:04) - Terraform Script Pitfalls
• (00:22:06) - Importance of Cloud Proficiency
• (00:23:07) - Multi-Cloud Usage and Challenges
• (00:24:35) - Automation and Optimization in Azure
• (00:26:28) - Certifications and Specializations
• (00:30:35) - Future of FinOps

Discover how Cost Dashboards are changing the way you can present information to the different stakeholder within FinOps. Learn from Yuriy (AWS CID Expert) on what their goal on the dashboards are built, and how you can leverage them to get the insights you need for your FinOps practice.

Explore the evolution of FinOps with Udam Dewaraja, the need for standardization, how FOCUS changes billing and the growing role of automation in cloud cost management. Discover how 2025 will shape FinOps adoption across cloud, SaaS, and IT spending.

Rick Ochs teaches us that Finops and Cost Optimization for AWS is not just technical but also cultural. To succeed, it is essential to balance performance, costs, and collaboration, driving a mindset shift within organizations.

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What's the problem to solve for FinOps with the DevOps lifecycle?

Today we kick off the FinOps Weekly Podcast with a very interesting discussion with Viktor Farcic, developer advocate at , and well known Youtube Creator with this channel

We dive deep into the absurds of cost reduction against value, the benefits of ephemeral dev environments for reducing costs and how to survive Black Friday without getting a huge bill by the end of the month.

Index of Contents

00:00 Intro 02:42 Discussion on DevOps and FinOps 04:29 Resource Management and Auto Scaling 13:37 Challenges in Dev Environments 24:30 Importance of Testing in Production 25:53 Observability and Automation 26:56 Scaling Strategies for High Traffic Events 28:41 Balancing Performance and Cost 33:30 Leveraging Alternative Cloud Providers 37:44 Adopting GitOps for Security and Efficiency 42:45 Future of AI and FinOps

Follow Our Guest

DevOps Toolkit (Viktor Youtube Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfz8x0lVzJpb_dgWm9kPVrw 

Viktor's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktorfarcic/ 

 

About FinOps Weekly

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Discover how FinOps and ITAM collaboration is transforming cost management in hybrid and cloud environments. Learn strategies to optimize licenses, avoid overspending, and maximize the value of your IT investments.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:01:15) - Understanding FinOps and ITAM Collaboration
• (00:05:07) - Collaboration and Data Sharing
• (00:09:41) - Damians FinOps Experience
• (00:12:26) - How does the collaboration works
• (00:18:00) - Real-World Collaboration Examples
• (00:19:51) - Cost Allocation FinOps/ITAM
• (00:26:24) - Advice for ITAM and FinOps Teams
• (00:28:07) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn how AI tools can enhance cost allocation, automate repetitive tasks, and create actionable insights, leading to more efficient and effective financial management.

We explore how AI is revolutionizing financial operations (FinOps) with guest Ben Schechter, CEO of Vantage. Ben explains the intricacies of cloud cost management, the importance of Model Context Protocol (MCP), and how leveraging AI can optimize FinOps practices.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:03:23) - AI's Impact on FinOps
• (00:05:26) - Leveraging AI in FinOps Practice
• (00:12:00) - Understanding Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• (00:15:06) - Core Use Cases and Dataset Allocation
• (00:17:46) - Building APIs and Developing MCP
• (00:19:28) - Small Companies vs. Enterprises
• (00:22:28) - Tagging Hygiene and Cost Allocation
• (00:28:53) - Future of FinOps and AI Integration
• (00:35:15) - Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

Nilofar Bhurawala reveals how TBM and FinOps align to optimize IT spend, drive business value, and thrive in the cloud + AI era.

Learn how to align technology investments with strategic outcomes, explore the synergies between FinOps and TBM, and understand their role in the era of cloud and AI. A must-listen episode packed with practical insights for FinOps and TBM leaders and professionals.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:01:00) - Understanding TBM: Technology Business Management
• (00:03:52) - The Synergy Between FinOps and TBM
• (00:06:17) - Cost Allocation and Business Value
• (00:13:02) - The Future of FinOps and TBM
• (00:26:03) - Leveraging TBM for Financial Management
• (00:32:48) - Advice for Beginners in FinOps and TBM
• (00:36:45) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Unlock the journey from visibility to action in FinOps with expert guest Diana Lezcano. In this episode, we dive into the world of cloud cost optimization, exploring the tools, strategies, and best practices that help engineering teams reduce cloud costs, build trust, and make data-driven decisions. Whether you’re an engineer, finance leader, or product manager, this conversation will give you practical tips to manage and optimize cloud spend effectively.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:00:40) - Understanding Engineering Actions in FinOps
• (00:01:55) - Tools and Strategies for FinOps
• (00:06:30) - Building vs. Buying FinOps Tools
• (00:09:47) - Integrating Cost Management in POC Phases
• (00:18:30) - Automation in FinOps
• (00:25:29) - Success Stories and Best Practices
• (00:37:05) - Leadership and Mentorship in FinOps
• (00:40:41) - Conclusion and Farewell

In a recent episode of the FinOps Weekly Podcast, Larry Advey, an experienced FinOps practitioner and maintainer of the FOCUS specification, shared game-changing insights on collaboration that challenge conventional wisdom about working with different personas in organizations.

Whether you're struggling to get engineering teams on board with cost optimization or wrestling with multi-cloud cost visibility, this deep dive into FinOps collaboration strategies offers practical solutions you can implement immediately.

The Critical Role of Collaboration in FinOps

"Collaboration is of utmost importance and a key element as part of being a successful FinOps practitioner," Advey explains. The reality is that FinOps professionals work with an incredibly diverse ecosystem of stakeholders, even in small companies. You're constantly engaging with engineering, product, finance, procurement, and leadership teams—each with vastly different priorities and communication styles.

The challenge isn't just technical; it's deeply human. Engineers focus on shipping code, developing features, and fixing bugs. Finance teams concentrate on cutting costs, improving profitability, and managing budgets. These priorities often seem at odds, making effective communication crucial for FinOps success.

Understanding this dynamic is the first step toward building the collaborative relationships that make FinOps initiatives successful rather than just another corporate mandate that gets ignored.

Mastering FinOps Personas: Who to Approach and How

Engineering Teams: From Adversary to Ally

Here's where Advey's approach becomes truly counterintuitive. While most FinOps practitioners report that engineering teams are their biggest challenge, Advey finds them the easiest to work with. His secret? A fundamental shift in approach from telling to asking.

"If you propose it to them and ask them, or here's the data, what do you think about this? Do you notice anything with this? Rather than telling them, 'Hey, you've got a problem here, go fix this,' instead ask them, 'Do you see anything that could... can you explain this to me?'"

This approach works because it taps into what engineers naturally love: explaining their systems and showing off the cool stuff they've built. Instead of making them defensive, you're making them the expert in the conversation.

The key principles for engineering collaboration include:

• Lead with curiosity, not criticism: Ask questions about their architecture and systems rather than pointing out problems
• Make their lives easier: Provide specific tools, scripts, and clear guidance rather than vague mandates
• Connect cost optimization to performance: Engineers care about efficiency and performance, which naturally aligns with cost optimization
• Provide context and data: Show them the numbers and let them draw conclusions

As Victor Garcia, one of the podcast hosts, emphasized from his engineering background: "If you teach an engineer or show him or her how to do stuff, they will d...

In this episode we sit down with Michiel van Oudheusden, creator of the open-source Azure Cost CLI, to explore how developers can take control of cloud spending using powerful tools and FinOps best practices.

Learn how to integrate cost awareness into your DevOps pipeline, optimize Azure costs without complexity, and shift financial accountability left — directly into the hands of engineering teams.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:00:57) - Overview of Azure Cost CLI Tool
• (00:01:34) - Development and Features of the Tool
• (00:07:14) - FinOps and Developer Responsibilities
• (00:13:17) - Practical Tips for Developers
• (00:18:47) - Cost-Efficient Cloud Architecture
• (00:22:22) - Cost Management in Cloud Computing
• (00:22:54) -  Management's Role in Cloud Efficiency
• (00:23:42) - Traditional Data Centers vs. Cloud
• (00:24:45) - Choosing the Right Cloud Services
• (00:25:49) - Developer Engagement and Cloud Costs
• (00:29:51) - Open Source Contributions and Career Growth
• (00:30:54) - The Importance of Sharing Knowledge
• (00:33:02) - Challenges in Cloud Cost Management
• (00:34:07) - The Future of FinOps
• (00:35:47) - Encouraging Community Contributions
• (00:39:31) - Final Thoughts and Conclusion

We talk with Ido Kotler (CPO of Pelanor) about how artificial intelligence is radically transforming financial operations in the Cloud. From smart alerts to autonomous agents, discover why the future of FinOps depends on AI more than you might think.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:00:21) - AI in FinOps: An Overview
• (00:01:00) - FinOps for AI vs. AI for FinOps
• (00:02:16) - Challenges and Opportunities in AI for FinOps
• (00:05:05) - Practical Applications and Current Trends
• (00:09:16) - The Future of AI in FinOps
• (00:26:40) - Communication and Debating Skills in FinOps
• (00:33:38) - Predictions for the Future of FinOps
• (00:38:01) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

How does engineering play a role in the world of FinOps? We discuss with Jeremy Chaplin from Flexera about team collaboration, cost-reduction incentives, and the importance of a common language. Discover the key factors for an effective FinOps practice!

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction
• (00:02:26) - Diversity of Profiles in FinOps Practice
• (00:05:49) - The Roleof Engineering in the FinOps Ecosystem
• (00:09:20) - Incentives for Cost Reduction
• (00:13:44) - Challenges in Incentivizing Engineers.
• (00:17:30) - Reinvesting FinOps Savings: Hiring and Innovation as Incentives
• (00:21:05) - Jeremy Chaplain’s Career Path to FinOps
• (00:25:50) - Advice for Engineers Looking to Transition into FinOps Practice.
• (00:28:57) - The Importance of Collaboration and Communication in FinOps Success

FinOps Cashflow Newsletter: https://finopscashflow.com

Welcome to a special episode of the FinOps Weekly Podcast! This week, Victor Garcia sits down with Alexa Abbruscatto, FinOps thought leader and creator of the FinOps Cashflow Newsletter—to explore the evolving world of FinOps, the power of community, and actionable strategies for cloud cost management.

Whether you’re a FinOps pro, a finance leader, or just cloud-curious, you’ll find practical insights, career inspiration, and a look at what’s next for the FinOps movement.

Our FinOps Weekly Courses: https://learn.finopsweekly.com

Timestamps:
00:00 - Meet Alexa: From English Teacher to FinOps Leader
03:12 - The Evolution of FinOps: Beyond Cloud Infrastructure
06:28 - Procurement’s Role in FinOps Success
09:45 - Building Community & The Power of Collaboration
13:20 - Alexa’s Journey: Soft Skills in a Technical World
17:00 - Making FinOps Accessible: Teaching Complex Concepts
21:15 - Real-World Challenges: Enterprise Commitments & Cloud Discounts
25:40 - AI, Automation, and the Future of Procurement
30:05 - How to Break Into FinOps (No Tech Background Needed)
34:30 - Community Growth, Events, and Global Networking
39:10 - Incentivizing Contribution & Keeping the Community Engaged
43:00 - Alexa’s Wish List for FinOps in 2026

Key Takeaways:

How FinOps is expanding beyond traditional cloud cost management
The importance of procurement and finance collaboration
Alexa’s unique path into FinOps and why soft skills matter
Actionable advice for building a thriving FinOps community
Trends to watch: AI, automation, and data-driven governance
#FinOps #CloudCostManagement #CloudFinance #Procurement #TechCareers #FinOpsCommunity #CloudOptimization #CashflowNewsletter
—
Enjoyed the episode? Like, comment, and share your biggest FinOps challenge below!

Join us as Katya delves into the world of FinOps, providing insights on explaining the concept to teams, adapting practices to different stakeholders, and optimizing cloud resources effectively. Discover common misconceptions, the importance of tailored communication, and successful strategies for integrating FinOps education into corporate processes. Learn how to motivate team members, avoid common pitfalls, and measurable growth in FinOps culture within a company. This episode offers valuable tips for building a robust FinOps practice from the ground up.

Our FinOps Weekly Courses: https://learn.finopsweekly.com

​ ​ Newsletter FinOps Weekly: https://newsletter.finopsweekly.com/s...
​ FinOps Weekly Community on Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/finopsweekly...

00:00 Introduction
00:46 Understanding FinOps Misconceptions
02:42 Adapting FinOps Communication
04:41 Effective FinOps Education Strategies
07:49 Formats for FinOps Training
11:44 Integrating FinOps into Company Processes
15:01 Motivating Teams for FinOps
18:35 First Steps in FinOps Implementation
22:32 Common Mistakes in FinOps
26:03 Overcoming FinOps Challenges
35:54 Measuring FinOps Culture Growth
40:38 Final Thoughts

Check Glassity at https://glassity.cloud/?utm_source=yo...

Manual cost optimization is a losing battle. If you are still chasing engineers to tag resources or manually checking dashboards for waste, you are creating a bottleneck.

The future of FinOps is AUTOMATION.

In this episode, we dive deep into how to build a "Self-Driving" FinOps practice by integrating cost controls directly into your development lifecycle (SDLC).

We discuss with Ernesto (Glassity) and Dustin (KPMG) how to replace manual gatekeeping with automated guardrails in your CI/CD pipelines and Terraform code.

What you will learn:

Automated Tagging: How to inject tags at creation time so you never miss a resource.

The "Feedback Loop": Using tools to show cost impact before deployment (in the PR).

Policy as Code: Implementing guardrails that block expensive resources automatically.

Reducing Toil: How automation frees up engineers to focus on features, not finance.

00:00 Introduction
00:58 Challenges in FinOps
04:12 Prioritization and Management in FinOps
08:36 Integrating FinOps into the Software Development Life Cycle
12:01 Automation and Tooling in FinOps
23:04 Motivating Teams and Driving Change
38:47 Future of FinOps and Continuous Improvement
43:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Our FinOps Weekly Courses: https://learn.finopsweekly.com Discover what truly defines a mature FinOps expert practice and the hidden skills, mistakes, and mindset shifts that separate beginners from real expert. Why AWS CostSlayer (Rick Triana) says that rightsizing is nonsense in FinOps. ​ ​ Newsletter FinOps Weekly: https://newsletter.finopsweekly.com/subscribe ​ FinOps Weekly Community on Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/finopsweekly/shared_invite/zt-3671i60tj-XCb5BTADAYDaTBV0VazYrw 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Essential Skills for FinOps Practitioners 02:30 Understanding Different FinOps Personas 03:25 Effective Communication with Various Teams 07:15 Maturity in FinOps Practices 11:59 Proactive vs. Reactive FinOps Approaches 14:28 Driving Executive Buy-In for FinOps 19:58 Training and Cultural Adoption in FinOps 31:44 Challenges and Myths in FinOps 41:10 Tagging Strategies and Alternatives 51:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we dive deep into the Hybrid FinOps Challenge where cloud, on-prem, SaaS, and AI collide.

✅ The biggest cost pitfalls in hybrid cloud FinOps
✅ How to align FinOps, ITAM, and SaaS management teams
✅ Why AI and data clouds (like Snowflake & Databricks) change everything
✅ Real negotiation tips with mega-vendors like Microsoft & AWS
✅ The key to turning visibility into actionable insights

If your enterprise is struggling to control hybrid cloud costs or integrate FinOps across multiple domains, this episode is a must-watch.

​ ​ Newsletter FinOps Weekly: https://newsletter.finopsweekly.com/subscribe

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - The Hybrid Cloud and the Hybrid Finops Challenge
• (00:00:44) - What are the challenges of having a hybrid cloud Finops?
• (00:04:29) - What's the Difference Between Public Cloud and Finops?
• (00:07:22) - How to Negotiate Cloud Contracts
• (00:09:55) - Data Cloud: The SaaS vs Public Cloud
• (00:18:37) - SaaS and Licensing
• (00:25:15) - Will IT Finops Have More Confidence in the Cloud?
• (00:28:36) - What is the difference between visibility and insight in the cloud?
• (00:35:21) - How to Structure a Hybrid ITAM-FinOps Practice
• (00:38:27) - SaaS Cloud: The transition to hybrid cloud
• (00:41:00) - Finish The Week: Victor on The Challenge

AWS FinOps Updates: https://finopsweekly.com/news/aws-cost-optimization-finops-updates/

Join Victor Garcia and AWS Technical Account Manager Loïc Fournier for an in-depth breakdown of the most impactful AWS re:Invent announcements for FinOps practitioners. Discover how Database Savings Plans, Compute Optimizer automation, and new cost management features can transform your cloud financial strategy in 2026. In this episode, we cover the top 3 re:Invent announcements, hidden cost implications, real-world savings scenarios, and a complete 30-day action plan to optimize your AWS spending from day one.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

00:35 - Top 3 AWS re:Invent announcements for FinOps

01:26 - Database Savings Plans: The game-changer everyone's been waiting for

02:03 - Compute Optimizer automation for unattached volumes

03:51 - Savings Plan sharing prioritization and cost allocation

05:26 - Why Database Savings Plans simplify multi-service coverage

06:00 - Jump cut handling and new cost contact features

07:04 - Underestimated feature: 18-month AI-powered forecasting

09:46 - Your first 30 days of 2026: Step-by-step FinOps checklist

10:05 - Day 1: Database Savings Plans implementation strategy

12:06 - Graviton migration and volume optimization priorities

13:27 - Week 2: Visibility, alerts, and dashboard aggregation

14:10 - Week 3: Forecasting, prioritization, and cost efficiency scoring

16:40 - AI for FinOps: Testing Q Developer and MCP server integration

17:04 - The continuous effort mindset: Empowering your team 1

8:40 - Monthly recaps and staying current with AWS updates

19:27 - FinOps Foundation FOCUS 1.2 release

20:06 - Hidden costs and pricing model tricks to watch for

22:36 - Database Savings Plans vs Reservations: The trade-offs

26:01 - Seven-day rollback window: Your safety net for commitments

27:34 - Serverless vs provision: Reevaluating your database strategy

28:29 - Real-world scenario: $1,890/month additional savings example

31:35 - The importance of customer feedback loops

33:55 - Loïc's career journey: From mainframes to cloud FinOps

38:48 - On-premises vs cloud: The mindset shift every team needs

41:22 - One piece of advice for FinOps practitioners

42:11 - Essential resources: Blogs, YouTube sessions, and Compute Optimizer

45:27 - Education and gamification: Building a cost-aware culture

49:11 - Implementing policies and automation to prevent waste

50:20 - Final thoughts and feedback call-to-action

CONNECT WITH US:

Victor Garcia - FinOps Weekly

Loïc Fournier - AWS Technical Account Manager

Have feedback on AWS cost management features?

Share it with your AWS account team or reach out to Loïc on LinkedIn!

Our FinOps Weekly Courses: https://learn.finopsweekly.com ​ ​

Newsletter FinOps Weekly: https://newsletter.finopsweekly.com/subscribe ​

FinOps Weekly Community on Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/finopsweekly/shared_invite/zt-3671i60tj-XCb5BTADAYDaTBV0VazYrw

#awsreinvent2025 #FinOps #CloudCostOptimization #AWSSavingsPlans #DatabaseSavingsPlans #ComputeOptimizer #CloudFinancialManagement #AWSCostManagement #FinOpsWeekly #CloudOptimization #AWSUpdates #TechPodcast #CloudComputing #CostEfficiency #DevOps