Padmini Dandin
Azure Cloud SME
Bengaluru
Summary
My leadership in Azure solution architecture and project management for 8 years, demonstrates my ability to drive significant cloud transformations, leveraging both technical acumen in PaaS, SaaS, IaaS, and IaC, and strong analytical skills for strategic decision-making.
With a proven record at Microsoft and expertise in cloud networking and Architect, I excel in designing and implementing robust cloud solutions.
LinkedIn: [http://linkedin.com/in/padmini-dandin-5bb0651b1]
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
5
5
Certifications
Work History
Azure Solution Architect & Finops SME
Cognizant
Bengaluru
04.2023 - Current
- Led Azure FinOps governance across multi‑subscription enterprise environments, delivering 25% cost savings and ~$2M cost avoidance (2025 YTD) through optimization, automation, and policy‑driven controls.
- Owned Azure Cost Management strategy, driving cost transparency via budgets, utilization analysis, Power BI cost dashboards, and Azure Advisor recommendations.
- Established cloud governance guardrails (tagging standards, baseline architecture, lifecycle controls) to enforce cost accountability, security, and operational consistency at scale.
- Served as decision authority for cloud architecture and governance, balancing cost, risk, performance, and delivery impact across multiple programs.
- Designed and governed secure, scalable, and cost‑effective Azure architectures aligned with the Azure Well‑Architected Framework across all five pillars.
- Led Infrastructure as Code standardization using Terraform and ARM via Azure DevOps, improving deployment consistency, auditability, and operational efficiency.
- Directed Azure networking modernization, including Virtual WAN, routing enhancements, and large‑scale site migrations.
- Acted as technical, FinOps, and governance lead, mentoring teams and advising stakeholders on cloud optimization, modernization, and best practices.
Senior Network Engineer - Microsoft
Teamware Solutions
Bengaluru
08.2021 - 02.2023
- Improved support efficiency by optimizing existing processes and tools.
- Drive customer outcomes by helping customers architect and deploy first-class cloud infrastructure solutions in Azure, applying Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) and Well-Architected Framework (WAF) scalable best practices.
- Operate in a hands-on technical and governance role spanning across design, build, and production, comfortably switching from architecture discussions to implementation guidance.
- Own, troubleshoot, and solve customer technical issues end-to-end for Azure networking scenarios, delivering a seamless support experience from problem identification to full resolution by collaborations of users, vendors, internal backend & MS product team.
- Maintain architecture decision records (ADR), and validate critical assumptions with proof of concepts (PoCs) for high-risk components.
- Scale impact by creating self-help assets and sharing best practices/knowledge to prevent future problems, improve supportability, and increase reuse across teams.
- Achieved L300 SME in Azure Virtual networking and Layer 3 & Layer 4 Load balancers.
Senior System Analyst
TESCO
Bengaluru
06.2017 - 08.2021
- Monitored s supported the entire UK C Ireland business through the Group Operations Centre (GOC) - Juniper, Cisco, Aruba - MDF C LDF switches, Dell C HP EXSI hosts, API’s, Printers Etc
- Accountable for Mainframe Day-end tasks for all stores across the UK C Ireland.
- Monitored availability of all store IT equipment using tools provided by CA Technologies (SOI, Spectrum, NSM) and Korn Shell.
- Provided level 2 s 3 support for UK C Ireland store infrastructures (VMWare and Citrix Xen).
- Ran scheduled scripts/batches to ensure data availability to downstream systems.
- Supported installations of hardware/software components for physical servers.
Senior Customer Service Associate
Aegis
Bengaluru
04.2016 - 05.2017
- Resolved 800+ customer service issues using company processes and policies and provided updates to customers.
- Implemented measures to ensure compliance with industry regulations, protecting both customers and the organization from potential liabilities.
- Coached new team members on service techniques and provided scoring through quality assurance program.
- Assisted customers with product selection, troubleshooting and problem resolution.
- Tailored communication style according to diverse customer demographics and preferences while maintaining an empathetic tone.
Student Counsellor
Tek Classes
Bengaluru
03.2015 - 03.2016
Education
M. Tech - VLSI Design s Embedded Systems
SIET College Tumkur
Tumkur, India01-2015
Bachelor of Engineering - ECE
Visvesvaraya Technological University
Belgaum, India01-2013
PUC-II - PCMB
B.E.S. T Ballari
Bellary, India01-2009
10th SSLC - undefined
L.C.S Gadag
Gadag, India05-2007
Skills
Azure Advisor & Architect
Azure network SME,
PowerBI dashboard
Azure Entra ID: Proficient in Azure Entra ID, Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service
Certification
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals AZ900
Interests
Hikes C Camping, Experimental Cooking, Art C Crafts for therapy, Music as meditation
Timeline
Azure Solution Architect & Finops SME
Cognizant
04.2023 - Current
Senior Network Engineer - Microsoft
Teamware Solutions
08.2021 - 02.2023
Senior System Analyst
TESCO
06.2017 - 08.2021
Senior Customer Service Associate
Aegis
04.2016 - 05.2017
Student Counsellor
Tek Classes
03.2015 - 03.2016
Bachelor of Engineering - ECE
Visvesvaraya Technological University
10th SSLC - undefined
L.C.S Gadag
M. Tech - VLSI Design s Embedded Systems
SIET College Tumkur
PUC-II - PCMB
B.E.S. T Ballari
Testimonials
- Padmini's expertise in Azure cloud solutions is unparalleled. Her innovative approach and strategic thinking have driven significant improvements in our cloud infrastructure." - [saravanan.seshasayaman@fortrea.com]
- Padmini joined through lateral hiring and quickly contributed to the Azure Platform team. She understood the Intelligent Infra program in a few weeks and assisted with R6, R9, R11, R13, and R14 releases. Despite being new to design documentation, she updated the Azure Platform LLD with key information for the RSIT team handover. Her efforts helped the Platform team gain recognition from the PAT team and other stakeholders. Padmini also played a crucial role in restoring the AV solution in Prod and fixing the RBAC issue in the MWM SIT environment. - [Dinesh.L5@cognizant.com]
- Padmini has been instrumental in leading our Azure Cloud Operations Team, by providing the Technical Leadership to the team, resolving complex issues from time to time and supporting the In Flight Projects. She has done an exceptional job in managing the Azure Cloud FinOps and Cost Optimization Initiatives. She has led the Build to BAU Transition and KT successfully. Padmini has provided effective leadership in resolving technical issues for the Xcellerate and Vardo Project, effectively managed bastion issues, patching, and resource deployment. Her contributions have significantly improved the team's operational efficiency. Padmini has received many appreciations from the Client and Cognizant Client Leadership. - [Eswar.Singh@cognizant.com]