Podcast – The ITAM Forum – Advancing the I

FinOps Foundation Focus – what is it and how do we use it?

This episode explores the challenge of achieving trustworthy data in SaaS management and asks whether standardised reporting could simplify visibility across the SaaS estate. Focusing on the FinOps Foundation’s FOCUS initiative, the discussion outlines what it is, the problems it aims to solve, current levels of vendor support, and what’s needed for it to succeed in driving consistent, transparent usage and consumption reporting.

“The best way to learn is by doing you can you can read all you want but things really start to click once you get into a data set.” – Rob Martin, FinOps Foundation

ITAM & FinOps working together to govern SaaS

We explores why ITAM, FinOps, and SaaS management must converge as organisations navigate rapid changes in software consumption – especially with the rise of AI and usage-based pricing. Featuring insights from Flexera’s Gary McAllister, the discussion highlights the challenges of SaaS sprawl, unclear ownership, and unpredictable costs, while outlining practical steps for gaining visibility, improving governance, and shifting from cost control to value-driven management.

“Treat FinOps, SaaS and ITAM as more of a kind of single kind of working group, but also ensure that you’ve got the best visibility you have across your entire estate into what’s being used and where things go.” – Gary McAllister, Flexera

From Seats To Consumption – optimising SaaS in the AI era

This episode AJ Witt, Geoff Worsley (bedigtial) and Leigh Martin (Flexera) explores how AI is transforming SaaS pricing and consumption, shifting from simple per-user models to complex, usage-based metrics. It examines what this means for SaaS management, how ITAM teams can optimise AI-driven costs such as tokens, and how organisations can assess value from their spend. The discussion also highlights the emerging governance and compliance challenges in managing AI-infused SaaS.

“We’re in a stage where you’re paying for consumption on anything. It’s no different, we just got to accept that that’s the way it’s going to be for going forward, but humans adapt. We’ll have to adapt. If you don’t, the only companies that are going to work out is ones that can work out how to make use of the data that’s in front of them faster and more actually than the other person” – Geoff Worsley, bedigital

Interview with Erin McClean, 2025 Consultant of the Year

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the ITAM Excellence Awards 2025 Consultant of the Year. Celebrating expertise, client impact, and the ability to turn complex challenges into practical outcomes, this winner shares the approaches, insights, and experiences that have helped organisations strengthen their ITAM practices and deliver lasting value.

“You can be the cleverest person in the room, you can have every single skill and be a master of all vendors, but if you’re unable to communicate that to the right people you won’t get your message across. So I think its so important your soft skills separates you from a good ITAM consultant to a great one. ” – Erin McClean, Synyega

Interview with Jerry Frazier, 2025 Professional of the Year

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the ITAM Excellence Awards 2025 Professional of the Year winner. Recognising outstanding leadership, measurable impact, and a commitment to advancing the discipline, this winner reflects on the achievements, challenges, and strategic decisions that set them apart — and what excellence in ITAM truly looks like at the highest level.

“It was just reaching out, forming a team and having good conversations about ITAM and about other teams. If procurement brings something up, let’s talk about it – what the problem is and how to get over that bump.” – Jerry Frazier, Toyota North America

Does ITAM Need a Rebrand?

In this episode, Kelly Yip speaks with Fulvio Inserra from The Mastermind Group (TMG) about the perception of ITAM within organisations. What is this perception and does it hinder ITAM? Does it keep ITAM within a ‘box’? What do you think? Do we need a rebrand?

Fulvio always keeps us on our toes with his fresh insights. Here’s one of our favourite quotes from this episode:

“We all have a role to play. It’s all of us collectively. We need to be better at putting shining examples into the spotlight to get others to understand the value ITAM delivers.”

Interview with Kerim Yuksel, MOS Academy 2025 Partner of the Year

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the ITAM Excellence Awards 2025 Partner of the Year winner. From building trusted relationships to delivering real-world impact, the winner shares their approach to collaboration, lessons learned, and what it takes to be a true strategic partner in ITAM.

“Reducing drama is a superpower in an enterprise IT.” – Kerim Yuksel

Interview with Katherine Caruso, 2025 Rising Star Winner

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the ITAM Excellence Awards 2025 Rising Star. From early career milestones to standout contributions, the winner shares insights, lessons learned, and what it takes to make a meaningful impact in ITAM.

“If my experience encourages someone to take a second look at ITAM or feel excited about pursuing it, then that’s incredibly rewarding for me.” – Katherine Caruso

When FinOps Met ITAM

What happens when ITAM and FinOps teams stop working in silos? Real savings. In this episode, we break down how combining IT asset intelligence with financial optimization practices—like BYOL, license portability, reserved instances, and hybrid use benefits—can drive tangible cloud and software cost reductions. Tune in for practical examples and takeaways you can apply immediately.

Our favourite takeaway:
“You’ve got two options: you can get on board with it and be part of that conversation… or you can stand still and hope for the best.” – Ryan Hardcastle

Trust Equation: Data, AI and ITAM

AI promises smarter IT Asset Management, but only when the data and decisions behind it can be trusted. In this episode, we unpack how organizations are using data and AI in ITAM, where things can go wrong, and what responsible adoption really looks like. The conversation highlights real-world challenges, governance considerations, and the mindset needed to balance speed, insight, and control.

“But in order for us to start leveraging at scale these kind of capabilities, we need to have that foundational trust. And that’s nothing new. That’s been the case for IT asset management for as long as I’ve, you know, been in this industry, which is a long time. You know, so having trustworthy data underpinning your IT asset management practice has always been the case, and it’s no different now. ” – Kieron Dean, SeriveNow