Unlocking Innovation: Kratix and Platform Engineering at NatWest
In this episode of the FINOS podcast, Grizz Griswold interviews Chris Plank from NatWest Bank and Derik Evangelisa from Syntasso. They delve into the evolution of platform engineering, open-source technologies, and how NatWest uses cloud-native tools to deliver platforms as a product. Learn about the innovative Kratix framework, its role in enabling developers, and how open-source principles are being adopted in financial services. Whether you're a technical enthusiast or on the business side, this discussion provides valuable insights into modernizing IT practices and fostering innovation.
00:00 The Evolution of Team Collaboration
00:38 Introduction to the Guests
01:08 Overview of the Talk and Key Topics
02:00 Chris Plank's Background and Role
03:14 Defining Platform Engineering
05:52 Derik Evangelista's Background and Role
06:24 Understanding Kratix
10:41 The Journey of Platform Engineering at NatWest
16:54 Building with Kratix: A Technical Insight
19:35 Exploring FINOS Projects and Kratix Integration
20:01 Deep Dive into Kratix and Its Technical Aspects
22:31 The Concept of Golden Paths in Kratix
24:07 Real-World Applications and Industry Impact
29:50 Challenges and Lessons in Change Management
32:51 How to Contribute to Kratix and Future Prospects
37:26 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Kratix: https://www.kratix.io/
Chris Plank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisplank/
NatWest: https://www.natwestgroup.com/
Derik Evangelista: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derikevangelista/
Syntasso: https://www.syntasso.io/
Grizz Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarongriswold/
Find more info about FINOS:
On the web: https://www.finos.org/
Open Source in Finance Forum (OSFF Conference): https://www.finos.org/osff-2025
2024 State of Open Source in Financial Services Download: https://www.finos.org/state-of-open-source-in-financial-services-2024
FINOS Current Newsletter Here: https://www.finos.org/newsletter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finosfoundation/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FINOSFoundation
About FINOS
FINOS (The Fintech Open Source Foundation) is a nonprofit whose mission is to foster the adoption of open source, open standards, and collaborative software development practices in financial services. It is the center for open source developers and the financial services industry to build new technology projects that have a lasting impact on business operations. As a regulatory compliant platform, the foundation enables developers from these competing organizations to collaborate on projects with a strong propensity for mutualization. It has enabled codebase contributions from both the buy- and sell-side firms and counts over 50 major financial institutions, fintechs and technology consultancies as part of its membership. FINOS is also part of the Linux Foundation, the largest shared technology organization in the world. Get involved and join FINOS as a Member.
