Adedeji Awolesi

My trip down to San Diego was really amazing. This is my first trip to the United States and it was really worth it. In this blog, I will be sharing my insights, networking opportunities, sessions, personal reflections and closing thoughts. I hope you enjoy!!!

Pre Conference Buzz

FinOps X is an annual global conference that enables all FinOps community members to gather together in person to network, share knowledge and provide learning opportunities for anyone working in FinOps.

Excitement filled the air as I got my confirmation conference pass. I quickly booked my flight ticket and hotel accommodation as I believe the conference always promises to be a hub of innovation and networking for professionals worldwide.

I eagerly planned my schedules and itinerary. My goals were clear: absorb cutting-edge knowledge, connect with industry leaders, and bring back actionable insights.

Flight In & Welcome Reception

The Flight to San Diego was a long flight for me as I flew from Manchester via New York. Its an 8 hour flight to JFK New York and another 6 hour flight to San Diego. If I had known, I would have taken an hour flight to London Heathrow and then a direct flight to San Diego.

Setting my foot in San Diego , I knew I was in for an unforgettable experience. I quickly got my bags and headed to my pre booked taxi and off to the hotel as I needed to shower and get to bed.

The Welcome Reception was buzzing as we were treated with lots of delicacies, drinks and good music around the marina. It was an opportunity to network over drinks with professionals and interact with vendors. It really felt like home.

Day 1 Key Note and Sessions

J.R. Storment, Executive Director of the FinOps Foundation, discussed how FinOps has evolved over the past year. JR Keynote set an inspiring tone for the conference. The major Key points are;

• FinOps is everyone’s job: It’s no longer limited to finance teams; everyone in the organization plays a role.
• Cost-aware product decisions: Balancing value and cost.
• Beyond public cloud: Expanding FinOps practices to cover more technology spending.
• Carbon-aware FInOps: Integrating environmental impact consideration.

We also had Burn Down the Past – Forecasting at Disney by Elly Rauch who shared Disney journey in transforming financial processes and forecasting, Invoice Bots and Moving FinOps Beyond Public Cloud at Uber by Sarah Keller and Chavis Richardson where they discussed how Uber leveraged automation to manage invoices, FOCUS 1.0 GA Launch with GitLab where JR Storment announced the GA for FOCUS 1.0 and a Cloud VP Panel with AWS, Microsoft, and Google led by Jen Hayes.

To read more about the Key note for Day 1, click this link.

I also attended some break out sessions where their talks were insightful. Simplifying FinOps in a complex business by Jarred Clore and Lucas Paratore, Unveiling Chevron’s Transformation: A journey of innovation and cloud adoption fuelled by FinOps by Scott Linn, Evelyn Padrino (Microsoft) and Michael Flanakin (Microsoft) where they shared how Microsoft helped Chevron achieved its FinOps transformation, FinOps & ITAM by Keith Hiszem and Brian Adler where they discussed licencing and its effects on FinOps, FOCUS & GitLab: What It Is, and How to Adopt It by Mike Fuller, Amber Gregorio and Clément Leroux and Navigating FinOps: Building a Lasting Culture for Financial Success by Janel Jensen where she discussed about how to nurture a FinOps culture and its key areas in keeping a proactive FinOps management process.

Reflections on Day 1

Day 1 at FinOps X 2024 was full of insights and inspiration. I witnessed the evolution of FinOps beyond finance teams. It’s now everyone’s responsibility, emphasizing cost-aware decisions and even environmental impact. The knowledge gained from these discussions will undoubtedly influence my approach to financial management and strategy. Day 1 set the sails for exciting days ahead.

Networking – Official FinOps X Aircraft Carrier Party

I had an amazing time at the official FinOps X party. The party was hosted aboard the USS Midway, an iconic aircraft carrier docked in San Diego Harbor. The sheer size and history of the vessel added to the excitement. It was a prime opportunity used to network with peers, speakers, and thought leaders in the FinOps space—all in a unique outdoor setting.

Day 2 Keynote and Sessions

Day 2 Key note was packed with insights and announcements:

• American Express Accelerates FinOps – American Express shared how they accelerated their FinOps journey. As they scaled their multi-cloud footprint, discussed insights, challenges, and strategies. This gave me a glimpse into how a large enterprise navigates the complexities of cloud financial management.
• Cloud Provider Announcements – Product leaders from Google Cloud, Microsoft, and AWS took the stage to share new functionality, releases, and enhancements tied to delivering FinOps within organizations. Notably, FOCUS 1.0 gained native billing export support across all three cloud providers empowering FinOps practitioner. To know more about FOCUS, please click here.
• Build vs. Buy Debate – Mike Fuller, CTO of the FinOps Foundation took the centre stage emphasized understanding the time-to-value when deciding to build in house FinOps custom solutions. I was made to understand that this is the first time in FinOp X history where the build vs buy dilemma will be discussed.

To read more about the Day 2 key note, please click on this link

I also attended some break out sessions. Applying FinOps to Gen AI by Joshua Collier and Jason Rhoades where they discussed how they were able to implement GenAI to Grammly, its adoption, challenges, capacity options, application considerations and performance needs. Navigating New Intersections and Trends: FinOps, AI, and Sustainability – Microsoft by Cyril Belikoff, Ritesh Kini, Vikram Desai and Jimin Li where they discussed how Microsoft is adopting AI into Azure, Co-pilot in Cost Management and FinOps on Sustainability. This was one of the most insightful session I attended and being a Microsoft MVP, I enjoyed every bit of the presentations. I also attended the Microsoft User Group: Bring Your Data into the AI Era: Democratize FinOps with Microsoft Fabric by Gabriel Esparza-Romero and Shiv Nandan Singh where I learnt the integration of Microsoft Fabric and AI-powered data management solutions for FinOps.

Reflection on Day 2

Day 2 at FinOps X 2024 was filled with deep dives into advanced financial technologies and practices. The sessions on cloud features announcements, data analytics, Gen AI, and sustainability were particularly impactful, providing actionable insights that I can’t wait to implement.

Day 3 – Closing Networking Breakfast

On the closing day of FinOps X 2024, attendees gathered for a final networking breakfast. It was a valuable opportunity to connect, share insights, and build lasting relationships within the FinOps community. I connected with friends from US, Canada, Europe and also met mentors that I have been following from afar.

Closing Thoughts

FinOps X 2024 was more than just a conference; it was a transformative experience. I stepped out of my comfort zone, engaged with experts, and returned with newfound confidence. I’m already planning for FinOps X 2025!. I felt grateful. Grateful for the knowledge shared, the connections made, and grateful to the FinOps foundation team for the sponsorship. FinOps X 2024 was more than an event—it was a catalyst for my professional journey. I encourage fellow professionals to share their stories and join me in the journey of continuous learning and growth. Thank you!!