My Big Step Up: From FinOps Practioner to Pro
It has been 2 years since I started as a freelancer. One of my interests that got sparked even when I was at VMware was FinOps and the field of cloud financial management. When I started as freelancer my world an my goal was different. It was a search… However after a couple of month in that search I’ve hit a big goal in my journey. I passed my FinOps Practitioner exam back then this was a big deal for me, like crossing a finish line. Hands in the air, proud for what I did. But, sitting at my desk with my new certificate, I knew I wasn't done learning. I knew theory it was time to get some war scars. You start looking around for more knowledge that's when I set my eyes on an even bigger goal: the FinOps Professional certification.
Fast forward to the end of 2023. I've been helping clients with FinOps, and I'm doing alright. But I wanted to be better, the best I could be. So, I signed up for the FinOps Professional course. This was a big step, but I was ready. Did the investment and committed myself to start learning at moments I could.
Here's the thing: this new course was way different from the first one. The Practitioner course was good for learning the basics, but the Pro course? It was like diving deep into the ocean instead of just splashing around at the shore. It covered all domains & capabilities in more detail. Challenging myself to switch a couple of gears higher.
While learning all this new stuff, I also saw that a lot of what I'd been doing at my clients was the right path forward. That felt good. But this course wasn't just about learning from videos. That is something you can control easily. The second phase is getting involved with the FinOps community, doing service hours to help out. This is part of the certification, and the people running the course checked to make sure I did it right. I can't talk much about what I did, but it was all about getting more involved and helping connect different parts of the community and Framework. Additionally I wrote 3 essays about topics in the course. Cannot tell anything about it don’t want to spoil your learning experience ;-).
Now, balancing this course with my work was tough. My days were packed, so I had to study in the (late) evenings. Sometimes, instead of relaxing or watching Netflix, I was up late watching course videos or writing essays. What’s new on Netflix these days? Any suggestions? All kidding aside, you need focus to follow the videos and writing the essays. I couldn't just work on them in bits and pieces; I had to really sit down and think hard about what I was writing.
My big goal? To be one of the top FinOps experts out there. This certificate is a big step toward that. It's not just about getting a piece of paper; it's about always learning, always getting better at what I do. Getting more involved and earn a couple of war scars while doing it.
I had a chat with my 7-year-old kid about this. He wondered why I kept learning when I already had a job. I told him that learning never stops. Those nights in my office, I wasn't just hanging out or playing games. I was working hard to be the best in my field.
Looking back, what strikes me most is how much everyone in the FinOps world wants to share and help each other. It's like being in a year-round FinOps X with people who all want to do better. So, if you're thinking about taking this step, here's my advice: It's hard, sure, but it's worth it and the community is there to support you. You're not just learning for yourself; you're becoming part of a community that's all about growing and helping each other.
Now, my certificate hangs on my wall I am only number 3 in Belgium. It's not just about what I've done; it's about where I'm going next. The journey never ends, and I'm excited to see where it takes me