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After several attempts to launch a successful SaaS Management program, TJ Johnson recognized that the FinOps approach needed to shift. As Lead Architect for Platform Economics at MGM Resorts International, he shares how starting with visibility—before diving into optimization—helped his team finally gain traction. In this episode, you’ll learn the mindset change that made the difference, how to pick the right starting point, and what it really takes to make FinOps work for SaaS.Chapters00:00 Introduction to FinOps and SaaS Challenges01:51 Building a Software Management Program at MGM05:46 Tactics, Data, and Prioritization09:00 Implementing a New Software Intake Processes11:48 Standardizing Data with FinOps FOCUS14:39 Understanding the Differences Between Cloud and SaaS17:54 Evolving FinOps Practices for SaaS19:10 Making the Most of the FinOps Community21:09 Closing Thoughts

Anthony "TJ" Johnson

Lead Architect for Platform Economics at MGM Resorts and FinOps Foundation Ambassador

MGM Resorts’s TJ Johnson shares how a new approach finally made SaaS FinOps work, starting with visibility and scaling what actually delivers value.

Third Time's the Charm: How MGM Finally Cracked SaaS with FinOps

After several attempts to launch a successful SaaS Management program, TJ Johnson recognized that the FinOps approach needed to shift. As Lead Architect for Platform Economics at MGM Resorts International, he shares how starting with visibility—before diving into optimization—helped his team finally gain traction. In this episode, you’ll learn the mindset change that made the difference, how to pick the right starting point, and what it really takes to make FinOps work for SaaS.

500+ applications. Stitched-together spreadsheets. No clear owners. That’s what Ksenia Kouchnirenko inherited when she joined Verkada as VP of Enterprise Operations &amp; Technology. In this episode, she shares how she stood up a SaaS Management program from scratch to bring visibility, accountability, and strategy to software decisions. You’ll learn what it takes to start your own program, align stakeholders across IT and Procurement, and avoid early-phase pitfalls.Chapters<ul><li>00:00 Introduction to SaaS Management</li><li>01:30 Identifying Gaps in SaaS Management</li><li>03:34 The Role of Procurement in SaaS Management</li><li>05:49 Defining the Value of SaaS Management</li><li>08:21 Importance of Visibility in SaaS Management</li><li>09:38 People, Process, and Technology Framework</li><li>11:34 The Role of Automation in SaaS Management</li><li>13:45 Lessons Learned from Previous SaaS Management Experiences</li><li>16:16 Advice for IT Leaders on SaaS Management</li></ul>

Ksenia Kouchnirenko

VP, Enterprise Operations & Technology at Verkada

Struggling with SaaS Management? Discover how Verkada’s VP built a strategy from scratch using people, process, and tech as her foundation.

Standing Up SaaS Management: A People, Process & Tech Blueprint

500+ applications. Stitched-together spreadsheets. No clear owners. That’s what Ksenia Kouchnirenko inherited when she joined Verkada as VP of Enterprise Operations &amp; Technology. In this episode, she shares how she stood up a SaaS Management program from scratch to bring visibility, accountability, and strategy to software decisions. You’ll learn what it takes to start your own program, align stakeholders across IT and Procurement, and avoid early-phase pitfalls.

What happens when a cloud FinOps expert takes on the unruly world of SaaS? Ridge Fussell, Senior Manager of FinOps at The Home Depot, reveals the surprising complexity behind managing SaaS at scale—and why it's nothing like managing cloud. In this episode, learn why SaaS Management requires a different mindset and the first step you need to take to gain control and drive value. Chapters<ul><li>00:00 Introduction</li><li>01:32 Understanding SaaS vs. Cloud Management</li><li>07:44 The Home Depot's Partnership Approach to Change Management</li><li>09:30 Identifying Gaps in SaaS Visibility</li><li>15:34 Crawl, Walk, Run: Building a SaaS Management Program</li><li>21:48 How to Get Started: Don't Try to Boil the Ocean</li></ul>

Ridge Fussell

Senior Manager of FinOps at The Home Depot

FinOps for SaaS isn’t copy-paste from cloud. Learn the key mindset shifts and first steps to move from chaos to control.

From Chaos to Control: Applying FinOps Thinking to SaaS

What happens when a cloud FinOps expert takes on the unruly world of SaaS? Ridge Fussell, Senior Manager of FinOps at The Home Depot, reveals the surprising complexity behind managing SaaS at scale—and why it's nothing like managing cloud. In this episode, learn why SaaS Management requires a different mindset and the first step you need to take to gain control and drive value.

When does Smartsheet renew? Are we getting a fair price for Zoom? Do we really need 100 enterprise licenses? Each SaaS renewal requires time to prepare so you can answer these questions – and more. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains SaaS renewal management and the ideal process you should follow to confidently tackle software renewals at scale.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd46q9-lJRA1ZCGCmegXCXrGqSCXonMpZhQubNKEd_SWllLmw/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;Key Takeaways:<ul><li>[00:09&nbsp;-&nbsp;00:46] Helping with renewals</li><li>[00:46&nbsp;-&nbsp;01:36] What is SaaS renewal management?</li><li>[01:36&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:34] What is the ideal renewal process?</li><li>[02:34&nbsp;-&nbsp;03:11] 120 days applies to most applications but there are exceptions</li><li>[03:11&nbsp;-&nbsp;03:48] Determining quantity of licenses</li><li>[03:48&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:27] Benchmark comparisons</li><li>[04:27&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:59] Adding the agreement to your system of record</li><li>[05:00&nbsp;-&nbsp;05:34] Recap</li></ul>SaaSMe Anything is the bi-weekly podcast that brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, hosted by your resident SaaS expert and Zylo co-founder Ben Pippenger. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpipp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains SaaS renewal management and the ideal process you should follow to confidently tackle software renewals at scale.

SaaS Renewal Management, Explained

When does Smartsheet renew? Are we getting a fair price for Zoom? Do we really need 100 enterprise licenses? Each SaaS renewal requires time to prepare so you can answer these questions – and more. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains SaaS renewal management and the ideal process you should follow to confidently tackle software renewals at scale.

License waste runs unchecked in most organizations today. In fact, Zylo’s SaaS Management Index shows that on average 49% of licenses are unused each month, adding up to $18M in wasted spend each year. Sure, money speaks. But this risk goes beyond your bottom line, impacting security, operational efficiency, and value across the business. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains the importance of SaaS license management and outlines what an effective strategy looks like and the steps for execution.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd46q9-lJRA1ZCGCmegXCXrGqSCXonMpZhQubNKEd_SWllLmw/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;Key Takeaways<ul><li>[00:08&nbsp;-&nbsp;00:48] Organizations on average waste $18 million in SaaS licenses</li><li>[00:48&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:26] What is SaaS license management</li><li>[02:26&nbsp;-&nbsp;03:20] Decisions you need to make after obtaining usage data</li><li>[03:20&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:34] How to reclaim SaaS licenses</li><li>[04:34&nbsp;-&nbsp;05:05] Recap</li></ul>SaaSMe Anything is the bi-weekly podcast that brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, hosted by your resident SaaS expert and Zylo co-founder Ben Pippenger. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpipp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains the importance of SaaS license management and outlines what an effective strategy looks like and the steps for execution.

SaaS License Management, Explained

License waste runs unchecked in most organizations today. In fact, Zylo’s SaaS Management Index shows that on average 49% of licenses are unused each month, adding up to $18M in wasted spend each year. Sure, money speaks. But this risk goes beyond your bottom line, impacting security, operational efficiency, and value across the business. In this episode, Ben Pippenger explains the importance of SaaS license management and outlines what an effective strategy looks like and the steps for execution.

How many applications do we really have? What apps are being expensed by employees? Are there potential security risks we don’t know about? You’ll get answers to these questions and more by practicing SaaS inventory management. In this episode, Ben Pippenger will explain the ins and outs of what it is, why it matters, and best practices you should follow.Have a question you’d like answered on SaaSMe Anything? Submit yours <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd46q9-lJRA1ZCGCmegXCXrGqSCXonMpZhQubNKEd_SWllLmw/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Key Takeaways<ul><li>[00:00&nbsp;-&nbsp;00:51] Companies spend three times more on SaaS than they think they do</li><li>[00:48&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:03] What is SaaS inventory management?</li><li>[00:48&nbsp;-&nbsp;02:24] Unlocking the Secrets of SaaS Inventory Management</li><li>[02:04&nbsp;-&nbsp;04:08] AI-powered discovery and strategic portfolio management, three tiers of apps to work through</li><li>[04:08&nbsp;-&nbsp;05:36] Onboarding applications and managing inventory</li><li>[05:37&nbsp;-&nbsp;06:17] Quick wins</li></ul>SaaSMe Anything is the bi-weekly podcast that brings clarity to the chaos of SaaS, hosted by your resident SaaS expert and Zylo co-founder Ben Pippenger. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpipp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

How many apps do we have? Which are being expensed? Do they align with our security posture? Learn how SaaS inventory management answers these questions and best practices to follow.

SaaS Inventory Management, Explained

How many applications do we really have? What apps are being expensed by employees? Are there potential security risks we don’t know about? You’ll get answers to these questions and more by practicing SaaS inventory management. In this episode, Ben Pippenger will explain the ins and outs of what it is, why it matters, and best practices you should follow.

SaaS has shaken up the world of software and the lives of software asset management professionals everywhere. While it is daunting to wrap your arms around, SaaS is a gift in disguise – presenting SAM pros the opportunity to uplevel their careers. In fact, Joe Ryder, Senior Manager, Software Asset Management at McKesson, believes SAM has evolved to be a critical and strategic function in the enterprise. In this episode, Ryder reveals how software asset management pros can adapt their strategy to the cloud model, what they need to do differently when it comes to SaaS, and his prediction for what SAM looks like in five years.Key Takeaways<ul><li>[01:36&nbsp;-&nbsp;03:23] How SAM is ushering in a new era of accountability</li><li>[04:13&nbsp;-&nbsp;06:22] Self-imposed and artificial barriers to adoption of SaaS management</li><li>[09:48&nbsp;-&nbsp;10:58] AI and consumption level tracking</li><li>[12:49&nbsp;-&nbsp;14:32] The growing iceberg of risk associated with individually expensed software and Shadow IT</li><li>[21:42&nbsp;-&nbsp;24:36] The impact of attaching FinOps and SaaS to your infrastructure, and the impact on SAM practitioners</li><li>[26:07&nbsp;-&nbsp;28:30] The next five years of SAM—More collaboration with architecture and security, new risks as technology evolves</li></ul>About Joe RyderJoe Ryder is the Sr. Manager of Software Asset Management at McKesson. He has more than 10 years of software asset management experience and was previously a member of the world-class SAM team at Salesforce. If you’re a SAM leader or practitioner, you may have come across him on LinkedIn, sharing his thoughts and tips on maturing a SAM practice and upleveling your career in SAM. Connect with Joe on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/logikryder" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.Want more great SaaS Management stories and content? Subscribe to our newsletter: <a href="https://zylo.com/newsletter-sign-up/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://zylo.com/newsletter-sign-up/</a>&nbsp;

Joe Ryder

Senior Manager, Software Asset Management at McKesson

In this episode, learn how software asset management pros can adapt their strategy to the cloud model and what they need to do differently when it comes to SaaS.

How SaaS Management Drives Career Wins and Business Impact for Software Asset Management Pros with Joe Ryder (McKesson)

How SaaS Management Drives Career Wins and Business Impact for Software Asset Management Pros

SaaS has shaken up the world of software and the lives of software asset management professionals everywhere. While it is daunting to wrap your arms around, SaaS is a gift in disguise – presenting SAM pros the opportunity to uplevel their careers. In fact, Joe Ryder, Senior Manager, Software Asset Management at McKesson, believes SAM has evolved to be a critical and strategic function in the enterprise. In this episode, Ryder reveals how software asset management pros can adapt their strategy to the cloud model, what they need to do differently when it comes to SaaS, and his prediction for what SAM looks like in five years.

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SaaS has taken over the world – and your organization. Skyrocketing innovation. Empowering workforces. Embracing flexibility. The future of software is here. But with it comes new challenges.SaaSMe Unfiltered brings you uncensored, real-life advice on what it takes to conquer SaaS Management and optimization. For the IT, software asset management, procurement, and FinOps professionals knee-deep in SaaS every single day. SaaS superheroes just like you.For free resources to help you on your SaaS Management journey, visit <a href="https://zylo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">zylo.com</a>.

Third Time's the Charm: How MGM Finally Cracked SaaS with FinOps

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Today's Host

Ben Pippenger

Cory Wheeler

Meredith Albertson

Today's Guests

Anthony "TJ" Johnson

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