I was privileged to be an online speaker at the Global Excel Summit 2025!

I was approached to be a speaker, and my initial thought was, “No”. I try and avoid the Excel scene, because quite frankly, I’d rather be making spreadsheets than discussing them.

I eventually decided to do the talk, and chose to try and inspire people to think outside the box and set their imaginations free. So many focus on what Excel was designed to do, but I rather look at what Excel is able to do to solve whatever project I face. I had some technical issues with PowerPoint at the start of the video, but I worked around it to get a solution before the important bits.

I hope this inspires you.

I’m not really bothered with what Excel was designed to do. Yes, I know how it should used, and how to avoid the pitfalls, but I don’t limit Excel to what it was designed to do.

Many aspects of Excel can be used in more imaginative ways, and the ‘official uses’ often limit you in what you can achieve. I tend to use Excel with the view of doing so to achieve a goal. That goal is often to make a spreadsheet for a client of mine, but other times I make applications for fun, to see what I can get out of Excel.

Having a really good understanding of Excel, and years of experience, has put me in the position where I can put Excel to use in businesses of all shapes and sizes. Listening to what business owners need, allows me then to get the most out of Excel to achieve those goals.