A look into 2024 while closing 2023: My FinOps Journey Unfolds
At the start of this year, I stood at a pivotal junction in my FinOps journey. The year began, not with a clear path, but with a significant challenge. The company I was contracting for was struggling to get me into significant FinOps gigs. Maybe not because of the company but maybe because of the maturity of certain customers in the portfolio not feeling the financial pain of cloud hard enough. We fought but we did not managed to find a solution. This meant new road with new opportunities were explored. However, this did not turn out as expected. In the midst of the uncertainty about my future as FinOps architect I started searching for a new gig myself as I had the feeling that the one then would come to an end. This search led me to Devoteam, marking a significant acceleration in my journey. During my initial talks I had the feeling we were on the same page. They embraced my entrepreneurship and I embraced the opportunities that were in front of us while influencing the future. I would call it a win-win
At Devoteam, what started as planting the seeds of FinOps with clients evolved into a growing landscape of engagement and inquiry. Clients began actively seeking expertise, a clear indicator of FinOps' rising significance in the cloud adoption world.
The experience at FinOps X was a defining moment in this year. It was more than an event; it was a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts where every conversation sparked new ideas. Really becoming a family of people that at first not even knew each other. I had many conversations in San Diego. The conversation that stood out the most was the one with Stacy from the FinOps Foundation, it deepened my commitment to the FinOps certification and the enlightened the path forward.
Throughout the year, I noticed the influence of FinOps across various industries and geographies. This trend underscored the expanding role of FinOps in shaping cloud adoption practices globally. The journey throughout 2023 was not just about professional development; it was about personal growth too. Each challenge and interaction enriched my understanding, embedding FinOps more deeply into my professional identity. I can try to explain it with the following analogy. I have the feeling that with every interaction there is more water flowing through a small stream of knowledge. This stream steady but surely deepening a canyon and this knowledge is creating a deeper and wider stream every moment I get challenged by new customers, challenges at my customers that give me new angle on how to approach certain problems. Making me a better consultant and endraining this into my DNA. Might FinOps be the next VMware in my carreer? A company that had some rough times in recent times as well. Well, as VMware has been good to my carreer for 15 years I hope FinOps will do the same for me in the next decades.
As I look forward to 2024, my enthusiasm for expanding the FinOps community within Devoteam is at an all-time high. Together we started the idea of organizing a get together which happened back in November. We had a great get together and knowledge sharing session in Paris. This was the start of an internal community that is growing fast at this moment. Looking forward building this further in 2024. Engaging in insightful conversations and spearheading impactful projects is what I eagerly anticipate. One great outcome of the this community is a big project where some community members and I will actively work on delivering this towards an international customer. When a community comes together great things happen.
Another goal of mine is achieving the FinOps Professional certification it signifies further growth and exploration in this field. Hopefully I’ll be able to report success and further growth at the end of 2024.
For those just starting on their FinOps journey, I extend an offer of help and guidance. Navigating this path can be challenging, but with the support of a community and mentorship, it becomes an enriching experience so feel free to reach out if you would need any help or guidance.
Something else I’m thinking about is creating a some sort of IT freelancer community is taking shape in my head. I envision it as a nurturing space for networking, knowledge sharing, and collective growth. Starting with networking events, like the Tour of Flanders, this community aims to be a supportive platform for IT freelancers of all sorts.
The 2023 conclusion and the look forward
As this year comes to a close, I’m looking at the future – a future that is unwritten and filled with possibilities. The experiences of 2023 have laid a foundation of growth, community, and shared knowledge. Looking ahead to 2024, I am filled with a sense of purpose and excitement for what we can achieve together in the FinOps world. I see a community, not just within Devoteam but extending outwards, where collaboration, innovation, and support are the cornerstones. The upcoming year promises new challenges, new learnings, and new triumphs, and I am ready to embrace them all. To those embarking on their FinOps journey, remember, the path is enriched by those you meet along the way. Let's walk this path together, shaping a future where our collective wisdom transforms challenges into opportunities. The past has been a journey; the future is our canvas, and together, we will paint it with the colors of success, innovation, and shared growth.