From Optimizing Physical Warehouses, to Optimizing FinOps Data Warehouses: Eddy Zulkifly (Ep 21)

In this episode of Data Career Transformations, Bolaji interviews Eddie Zulkifly, a senior staff data engineer at Kanaxis.

They discuss Eddie's journey from chemical engineering to data engineering, his passion for soccer coaching, and the importance of community and mentorship in professional growth. Eddie shares insights on the role of Excel in business, the challenges of FinOps, and the significance of a growth mindset in both sports and data careers.

He emphasizes the value of learning in public and encourages data professionals to share their experiences and learn from one another.

Takeaways:
Eddie transitioned from chemical engineering to industrial engineering due to his interest in psychology and data analysis.
Excel remains a crucial tool in business, often seen as the universal data language.
Eddie's experience in supply chain management has greatly influenced his approach to data engineering.
Coaching kids in soccer has taught Eddie the importance of tailoring strategies to individual needs.
The concept of learning in public can accelerate personal and professional growth.
Eddie believes in the importance of mentorship and community support in the data field.
Understanding business requirements is key to effective data engineering.
Eddie's team at Kanaxis is structured to promote collaboration across data lifecycle stages.
Technical challenges in FinOps often involve cost allocation and resource tagging.
Eddie aspires to lead a data team and build impactful data products in the future.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Data Career Transformations
02:47 Culinary Adventures in Malaysia and Singapore
05:41 The Joy of Coaching Soccer
08:29 From Chemical to Industrial Engineering
11:08 The Role of Excel in Business
13:51 Transitioning to Data Engineering
16:44 Understanding Kanaxis and Its Operations
19:23 The Structure of the Data Team at Kanaxis
22:12 Challenges in FinOps and Data Optimization
22:22 Navigating FinOps Challenges
25:12 Lessons from the Pandemic: Data Engineering at Home Depot
28:25 Proud Projects: Implementing Modern Data Stacks
30:52 Mentorship and Community in Data Engineering
34:12 Growth Mindset: Coaching and Learning
39:42 Future Aspirations in Data Engineering
41:46 Advice for Data Professionals

Speakers:
Guest: Eddy Zulkifly, Senior Staff Data Engineer, Kinaxis
Host: Bolaji Oyejide, Community Manager at dbt Labs

We’re Building the Future of Data. Together.

We’ve always believed the best way to get better at data is by sharing what you’re learning. That’s why we built the dbt Community—a place where data pros at every level can ask questions, debate ideas, and push each other forward.

It’s not just about solving today’s problems—it’s about building what’s next, together.

Crowdsource solutions—70,000+ people who’ve been there, done that.
Find your crew—meet others who use the same tools you do.
Stay at the cutting edge—discussions, meetups, and game shows keep things fresh.

👉 Jump in and say hi—join the dbt Community now. https://www.getdbt.com/community/join...