How can strategic FinOps leadership drive product-centric optimization in enterprise organizations?

In this episode of FinOps in Action, I’m joined by Ashley Hromatko—one of the original trailblazers in the FinOps space. From building one of the first and largest FinOps teams at Pearson to her influential work at the FinOps Foundation, Ashley has been at the forefront of redefining cloud financial operations. Now serving as the FinOps product lead at Corteva, she brings a wealth of experience in aligning FinOps with product strategy.

Ashley shares deep insights into what today’s FinOps leaders need to prioritize, particularly the power of understanding the products being built and forming tight partnerships with product owners. Her unique journey from project management to FinOps leadership offers a blueprint for building scalable, savings-driven cloud strategies in complex environments.

During our conversation, we dive into key topics, including:

• Why successful FinOps starts with understanding the product and engaging cross-functional stakeholders early

• How to drive meaningful cost optimization by shifting from a reactive to proactive FinOps mindset

• The evolving role of FinOps in large-scale organizations and the impact of culture on adoption

• Ashley’s personal journey in FinOps and her contributions to the global FinOps Foundation community

Ashley also shares practical advice for FinOps professionals looking to build strong practices, collaborate better with engineering and finance, and drive true business value through optimization.

Whether you’re a FinOps practitioner, product manager, or cloud cost leader—this episode offers actionable strategies to elevate your FinOps game.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert insights on FinOps, cloud cost governance, and cloud strategy for enterprise success!

Quote of the Show:

• “ You have to also understand the dynamics of how the teams are established because I'm gonna be putting recommendations on an engineering backlog that is prioritized by that product owner, right? And so I have to be friendly, otherwise my things are not gonna get prioritized.” - Ashley Hromatko

Connect with Ashley:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hromatko/
• Company website: http://www.corteva.com/

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finops-in-action/id1790497808
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• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpjMc3qxDXZAjic5Zq21t
• Transistor: finopsinaction.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PointFiveCloudCostEfficiency