Member Spotlight: Innovating FinOps with SmartPlans’ Sherilyn Kamga

Journey Into FinOps: A Tale of Passion and Progress

Our series begins with an inspiring story from the heart of Silicon Valley. "My career in FinOps started 5 years ago when I joined Talend, a SaaS company in the Bay area," shares Sherilyn Kamga, founder of SmartPlans Consulting. She reflects on her early days as a Finance business partner, where her interest in cloud computing and FinOps began. "In this role, I quickly learned about cloud computing and FinOps concepts to help the company get a better visibility on their cloud spend," she recalls. Despite her background in Finance and Management, she became passionate about this topic and became one of the internal FinOps evangelists at this company.

Formative Experiences at Talend

Reflecting on her impactful role at Talend, Sherilyn shares, "As a Senior Strategic Finance Analyst at Talend, I actively led the implementation of FinOps processes and elevated the company's FinOps maturity level." Her experience here laid the groundwork for her future endeavors. "This dual perspective—strategic alignment and financial optimization—shaped my approach to FinOps," she asserts.

Leading the Charge at SmartPlans Consulting

Today, Sherilyn runs a consulting practice specializing in core finance and Cloud FinOps, focusing on innovative solutions that optimize cloud expenditure and enhance financial performance. As the head of SmartPlans Consulting, Sherilyn is at the forefront of empowering businesses with robust FinOps processes. "At SmartPlans, my primary focus is to empower businesses to establish robust FinOps processes and elevate the business value derived from the cloud," she explains. Her strategies go beyond mere cost-cutting, concentrating on a holistic view of cloud financial management. Her approach focuses on precise cost optimization, utilizing discount programs, and deploying observability tools for better visibility and accountability.

Tailored Strategies for Business Empowerment

Describing her approach at SmartPlans, Sherilyn emphasizes customization and strategic alignment. "I tailor my strategies to address the immediate and critical business needs, recognizing that Cloud FinOps isn't a static, one-time initiative," she notes. Her focus is on aligning recommendations with the company's objectives, ensuring long-term success. Sherilyn explains, “from identifying and capitalizing on immediate cost optimization opportunities to cultivating a robust FinOps culture within the organization, my approach spans the spectrum, ensuring that the efforts are both immediate and forward-thinking.”

Advocating for Smart Governance

In terms of governance, Sherilyn emphasizes the importance of automation. "I advocate for automation, especially in anomaly detection and waste reduction within cloud resources," she advises. She highly recommends leveraging the range of tools available in the market that eliminate the need for tedious manual processes. There are tools that offer enhanced visibility, real time decision-making capabilities, and more.

Keeping Pace with FinOps Innovations and Trends

Staying updated in this dynamic field is crucial. "I stay updated in the evolving FinOps landscape by actively engaging with the FinOps Foundation," Sherilyn mentions, highlighting the importance of community and ongoing education in her field. On the topic of recent innovations in FinOps, Sherilyn expresses enthusiasm about new developments. "I’m very excited about the Cost Optimization Hub announced by AWS at re:Invent," she says. This tool represents a significant step towards enhancing FinOps practices.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, our first Member Spotlight reveals the journey of a FinOps leader, Sherilyn Kamga, who has navigated various roles with a constant focus on innovation, strategic alignment, and efficient management. This story sets the stage for our series, promising more insightful narratives from other FinOps professionals who are making a significant impact in this exciting field. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our Member Spotlight Series!