Who should I follow to learn about FinOps?

If you want to learn **FinOps (cloud financial management / technology value management)** , I’d follow a mix of community leaders, practitioners, and organizations. FinOps is a fast-moving field, so practitioners who share real implementation lessons are often more useful than only following vendors. [About the FinOps Foundation](https://www.finops.org/about/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[FinOps Foundation - What is FinOps?](https://www.finops.org/introduction/what-is-finops/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Core FinOps people to follow * J.R. Storment - One of the most visible voices in FinOps. Good for industry direction, community updates, and where the discipline is heading. [A One Word Change: How the FinOps Community Made Our Mission Evolution Inevitable](https://www.finops.org/insights/mission-update/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Meysam Rafiei - Useful perspective on practical cloud cost management and FinOps adoption. * Jon Myer - Good for connecting cloud engineering, finance, and operational practices. * Mike Fuller - Helpful for practical FinOps workflows and operating models. * Robert Kröss - Represents the practitioner community perspective; good for seeing how enterprises apply FinOps. [Learn about the FinOps Foundation Ambassador Program](https://www.finops.org/about/ambassadors/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Organizations and communities worth following * [FinOps Foundation](https://www.finops.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - The central community hub. Follow their Framework, training, events, working groups, and practitioner stories. [About the FinOps Foundation](https://www.finops.org/about/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[FinOps Foundation - What is FinOps?](https://www.finops.org/introduction/what-is-finops/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * FinOps Foundation LinkedIn page - Probably the best place to discover active practitioners. * The Cloud Cost Optimization Podcast - Good for interviews and operational lessons. * FinOps Foundation YouTube channel - Useful for conference talks and practitioner sessions. [FinOps Foundation - What is FinOps?](https://www.finops.org/introduction/what-is-finops/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### Cloud-provider FinOps voices Follow FinOps leaders from: * [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://aws.amazon.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Cloud economics, cost optimization, and Well-Architected cost guidance. * [Microsoft Azure](https://azure.microsoft.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Azure Cost Management and enterprise FinOps practices. * [Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Cloud cost governance and optimization. ### If you are starting from zero, I’d do this order 1. Follow the [FinOps Foundation](https://www.finops.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and learn the FinOps Framework. [FinOps Foundation - What is FinOps?](https://www.finops.org/introduction/what-is-finops/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)[FinOps Framework](https://www.finops.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/English-FinOps-Framework-2025.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com) 2. Follow 10–15 practitioners on LinkedIn (especially FinOps Foundation Ambassadors). [Learn about the FinOps Foundation Ambassador Program](https://www.finops.org/about/finops-foundation-ambassadors/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) 3. Learn the three big areas: * **Understand usage & cost** * **Quantify business value** * **Optimize usage & cost** These are core areas in the FinOps Framework. [FinOps Framework](https://www.finops.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/English-FinOps-Framework-2025.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com) 4. Build hands-on skills with AWS/Azure/GCP billing exports, tagging/allocation, forecasting, and optimization. If your goal is **getting a FinOps job** , **becoming a FinOps engineer** , or **learning FinOps as a cloud architect/engineering leader** , the people to follow would be slightly different.

**To learn about FinOps, you should follow a mix of practitioners, thought leaders, and community ambassadors who actively shape the discipline. Some of the most influential voices include practitioners featured by the Cloud Value Lab, speakers at FinOps X, and ambassadors from the FinOps Foundation.** ## 🌟 Key FinOps Experts to Follow Name| Role / Affiliation| Why Follow Them ---|---|--- **Peter Crenshaw**| Director of FinOps, M&A and IT Business Partnerships at IEM| Deep expertise in bringing FinOps into mergers & acquisitions, with decades of cloud cost analysis experience. [CVL · Featured Practitioners - Cloud Value Lab](https://cvlfinops.com/about/featured-practitioners/) **Eli Mansoor**| Founder of OskaQ, Co-author of _Mastering AWS Cost Optimization_| Known for practical insights on procurement and structural waste in cloud spending. [CVL · Featured Practitioners - Cloud Value Lab](https://cvlfinops.com/about/featured-practitioners/) **Sasi Kanumuri**| Head of FinOps at Supabase, author of _Scaling Cloud FinOps_| Focuses on incident-style handling of cost spikes and building FinOps culture. [CVL · Featured Practitioners - Cloud Value Lab](https://cvlfinops.com/about/featured-practitioners/) **Erik Peterson**| Founder & CTO/CISO, CloudZero| Prominent voice in FinOps tooling and optimization strategies. [FinOps X Speakers, Join Industry Leaders in Technology Value](https://x.finops.org/speakers/) **J.R. Storment**| Executive Director, FinOps Foundation| Central figure in shaping the FinOps discipline and community. [Speakers from FinOps X 2025](https://x.finops.org/speakers-2025/) **Dann Berg**| Cloud FinOps Lead at Squarespace| Contributor to FinOps Foundation and Cloud Efficiency Hub. [Cloud Cost Optimization Contributors | FinOps Experts](https://hub.pointfive.co/contributors)[Learn about the FinOps Foundation Ambassador Program](https://www.finops.org/about/finops-foundation-ambassadors/) **Bindu Sharma**| Senior Director of Cloud Financial Operations at Teradata| Ambassador recognized for leadership in enterprise FinOps adoption. [Learn about the FinOps Foundation Ambassador Program](https://www.finops.org/about/finops-foundation-ambassadors/) **Brad Payne**| Sr. Manager, FinOps at PointClickCare| Ambassador and practitioner with hands-on optimization experience. [Learn about the FinOps Foundation Ambassador Program](https://www.finops.org/about/finops-foundation-ambassadors/) ## 📌 How to Engage With Them * **LinkedIn & Twitter/X**: Most FinOps leaders share case studies, frameworks, and cultural insights here. * **FinOps Foundation**: Follow their ambassador program and events like _FinOps X_ to hear directly from practitioners. * **Books & Blogs**: Titles like _Mastering AWS Cost Optimization_ and _Scaling Cloud FinOps_ provide structured learning. * **Podcasts & Webinars**: Many ambassadors and speakers host sessions on practical FinOps challenges. ## ⚠️ Risks & Considerations * **Tool Bias**: Some experts are affiliated with vendors (e.g., CloudZero, Apptio). Their insights are valuable but may lean toward their product ecosystems. * **Rapid Evolution**: FinOps practices evolve quickly; following active practitioners ensures you stay current. * **Community vs. Enterprise Focus**: Some leaders focus on startup/scale-up contexts, while others emphasize enterprise governance. Balance your sources depending on your environment. 👉 If you’re just starting, I’d recommend following **J.R. Storment** (for foundational perspective), **Sasi Kanumuri** (for cultural and operational insights), and **Eli Mansoor** (for procurement and cost optimization strategies). Together, they cover the strategic, cultural, and technical dimensions of FinOps. Would you like me to curate a **“starter list of FinOps podcasts, newsletters, and LinkedIn groups”** so you can plug into the community more directly?

To truly master and stay up to date on **FinOps (Cloud Financial Operations)** , the best approach is to follow the central organizations, community leaders, and practitioners driving the space forward. Rather than just tracking single social media accounts, look to these key entities, platforms, and thought-leadership sources: ### 1\. The Core Organization & Community * **The FinOps Foundation (part of the Linux Foundation):** This is the definitive hub for all things FinOps. * **Where to follow:** Their official website (`finops.org`), their active Slack community (thousands of practitioners sharing real-world advice), and their LinkedIn/X handles. * **Why:** They publish the official FinOps Framework, standard definitions (like FOCUS for cost and usage data), and organize global FinOps X conferences. [Best FinOps Certifications in 2026 (Beginner to Expert) - DevOps Cube](https://devopscube.com/best-finops-certifications/?utm_source=gemini#:~:text=The%20program%20aligns%20with%20the%20FinOps%20Foundation,these%20terms%20while%20preparing%20for%20the%20exam.) ### 2\. Key Industry Thought Leaders & Practitioners Many pioneers and active contributors regularly share frameworks, templates, and insights on LinkedIn and Medium: * **J.R. Storment:** Executive Director of the FinOps Foundation. He offers macro-level insights into where the industry, cloud economics, and organizational adoption are heading. * **Ashley Stirrup & Kim Wier:** Frequently share deep dives into operationalizing FinOps across enterprise cultures. * **Cloud Provider FinOps Teams:** Follow the official cloud financial management channels for AWS, Microsoft Azure (which has robust built-in FinOps guides), and Google Cloud. Their product managers frequently write about native optimization tools. ### 3\. Top Newsletters and Blogs * **The FinOps Foundation Weekly Newsletter:** A curated roundup of what’s happening in the community, new case studies, and upcoming meetups. * **Ben Garner / Various FinOps Practitioners on Medium:** Look up community-led writing on "Complete Learning Paths for FinOps" or real-world migration stories to see how companies tackle tagging, showback/chargeback, and unit economics. [Best FinOps Certifications in 2026 (Beginner to Expert) - DevOps Cube](https://devopscube.com/best-finops-certifications/?utm_source=gemini#:~:text=The%20program%20aligns%20with%20the%20FinOps%20Foundation,these%20terms%20while%20preparing%20for%20the%20exam.) ### Recommended Next Steps to Start Learning If you are diving in, structure your learning around these milestones: 1. **Get Certified:** Look into the **FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP)** course via the FinOps Foundation to learn the shared vocabulary and core principles. [Best FinOps Certifications in 2026 (Beginner to Expert) - DevOps Cube](https://devopscube.com/best-finops-certifications/?utm_source=gemini#:~:text=In%20our%20experience%2C%20the%20FinOps%20Certified%20Practitioner,of%20cloud%20cost%20optimization%20and%20FinOps%20practices.) 2. **Join the Slack:** Jump into the FinOps Foundation Slack workspace - it's arguably the best place to ask niche technical questions and learn from real practitioners. _Are you looking to learn FinOps from a technical/engineering perspective, a finance/accounting perspective, or general career transition?_

To learn FinOps, you should follow the **[FinOps Foundation](https://www.finops.org/)** - a part of the Linux Foundation - along with its official community channels, working groups, and recognized industry leaders. [How to PASS the FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP) Exam?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzHugA0ZcyE&t=36)[FinOps for Beginners: Roadmap with Certifications for Starters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbLiItkb5XI&t=429) Official Hubs & Organizations * **FinOps Foundation Website** : The central authority for frameworks, terminology, and the lifecycle phases (Inform, Optimize, Operate). [YouTube·Cloud Sprint] * **[FinOps Foundation Training Portal](https://learn.finops.org/)** : Offers structured paths ranging from introductory material to the FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP) designation. [Your 4-Step Roadmap to Becoming a FinOps Engineer!](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vpMwMQVcieI) * **FinOps Community Slack** : The active, practitioner-driven community where real-world troubleshooting, tooling discussions, and networking happen daily. [YouTube·Cloud Sprint +1] Key People and Groups to Follow * ** _J.R. Storment_ (Executive Director, FinOps Foundation)**: Frequently shares macro-trends, governance strategies, and community growth insights on LinkedIn. * **FinOps Foundation Ambassadors** : A rotating global roster of hands-on enterprise practitioners (from companies like H&M, Under Armour, and Unity) who actively mentor newcomers and publish best practices. [Learn about the FinOps Foundation Ambassador Program](https://www.finops.org/about/ambassadors/) * **Cloud Provider FinOps Teams** : Follow dedicated AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure FinOps blogs and engineering channels for platform-specific cost allocation and discount management tools. Would you like advice on preparing for the **FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP)** exam?