Global

Excel

Awards

Celebrating excellence in the Excel industry

Nominate Now

About the Awards

Returning for its second edition, the Global Excel Awards gives you the chance to vote for those you believe most deserve recognition, with five categories up for grabs.

The choice is hard. After all, this enthusiastic community has surged in size over the years, with so many talented, helpful, and inspirational figures within it. But YOU can well and truly put them on the map.

The Global Excel Awards is powered by Global Excel Summit, the world’s largest gathering of Excel users and experts. Our annual event welcomes thousands of people worldwide with a passion for supercharging their skills to accelerate career advancement.
‍
If you’ve attended, you’ll know many award contenders have delivered top-notch sessions. They include Microsoft MVPs, trainers, and social media sensations.

Road to
‍victory timeline

These key stages ensure the awards are based on a rigorous process to determine who's most worthy of winning each category.

Categories

CATEGORY 01

Rising Star in the Excel Industry

'Excelfluencers' have been popping up left, right, and centre, to an extent some would say has reached saturation point.

However, whether it's through social media, their website, their course(s), or speaking engagements, this up-and-coming individual is showing immense potential in shaping the future of the Excel world.

Who has made the most impact in the last year?

The Rising Star in the Excel Industry should:
  • regularly share helpful Excel content on social media and/or websites, and/or has launched a course(s), and/or has spoken at events 
  • have demonstrated innovative ways to tackle Excel challenges
  • have shown commitment to helping others become more proficient in Excel
  • have a growing reputation in the Excel community for their contributions and insights
  • have an expanding social media presence with high engagement
CATEGORY 02

BEST Microsoft Excel Add-in

Add-ins extend Excel's capabilities, letting you tackle everyday tasks with ease.

Whether you're looking to boost productivity, analyse data more deeply, or explore advanced charting options, this add-in is your go-to solution. It might have a specific purpose or be a 'jack-of-all-trades'.

Which add-in has become an essential part of your Excel toolkit?

The BEST Microsoft Excel Add-in should:
  • be compatible with Excel for Microsoft 365 
  • have a free version available 
  • have unique features or tools that set the add-in apart 
  • have introduced recent features and/or improvements 
  • have led to a measurable improvement in productivity and efficiency 
CATEGORY 03

Most Innovative Use of Excel

Countless people have proven that Excel is far more than a glorified calculator. Innovative uses have emerged across the web, from creative dashboards to animations to games.

Its unmatched versatility, vast range of functions, VBA, and underused design tools enable limitless possibilities.

Who has pushed the boundaries of Excel the most?

The Most Innovative Use of Excel should:
  • be housed on a website or social media post and freely downloadable
  • take a unique approach to solving complex problems with Excel 
  • demonstrate a significant improvement or efficiency gained from the solution 
  • showcase mastery of Excel’s advanced features, functions, or integration with other tools 
  • have the potential to be applied in broader contexts
CATEGORY 04

BEST LAMBDA

Since the introduction of LAMBDA, users have been able to construct reusable functions to fill the voids that Excel's native set has.

Whether simplifying complex calculations, automating repetitive tasks, or unlocking new possibilities, this LAMBDA has made a noticeable difference to your productivity and efficiency.

Which one has had the biggest impact?

The BEST LAMBDA should:
  • be accessible to the public 
  • have a real-world application that significantly improves workflows 
  • be original, creative, or unconventional to address specific challenges 
  • be able to adapt to different scenarios or datasets 
  • have proven popularity (e.g. social media engagement)
CATEGORY 05

BEST Global Excel Summit 2025
In-person Session

You've watched every session at the London summit across the two days, whether in-person or online. Who impressed you the most? Who inspired you the most? Who made the most insightful contributions? It's entirely your choice.

This category is only open to attendees with paid tickets, whether in-person or online.

The BEST Global Excel Summit 2025 In-Person Session should:
  • be engaging thanks to the speaker’s clear and articulate explanations
  • be influential by offering innovative methods that change your approach
  • showcase deep expertise and mastery that makes you go 'wow!'
  • keep the audience interested and connected with the speaker
  • have a lasting impact — which session will you still remember in a year’s time?
Nominate Now

What winners receive

Winning an award isn't merely about the satisfaction of winning. We've included a few goodies to ensure every victor remembers and is remembered forever.

Badge

A shining symbol of victory engraved with your name and achievement. Will yours go on your mantelpiece?

Certificate

A document of distinction with your name and achievement firmly inscribed. How about photo-framing it to stick up on the wall, eh?

Trophy

Have the honour of being among the first to go into the Global Excel Awards
hall of fame!

Our judges panel

Quality control matters, so five household names will first sift through your nominations before handing back the power for you to pick the winners.

Leila Gharani

Bill Jelen

Danielle Stein Fairhurst

Alan Murray

Celia Alves

Voting Rules

The nominations stage is currently running until
‍3 November 2024.

Please read through the rules to familiarise yourself with the awards process.

Read All Rules

Nominate now

Last Edition Winners

CATEGORY 01

Most Influential Professional in the Excel Industry

There’s been a sizable increase in the number of Excel ‘influencers’ over the years.

But whether it’s video tutorials, articles, social media posts, or full-scale courses, this individual’s consistency in delivering content that educates and inspires is revered by many.

Who’s had the biggest impact on your Excel usage and overall workflow in daily life?

This category is open to all members of the Excel community.

CATEGORY 02

BEST Microsoft Excel Add-in

Add-ins extend Excel’s capabilities, empowering you to execute tasks not possible or easily done natively.

Whether it’s productivity-boosting features, analysis tools, or additional chart options, this add-in is your go-to solution for everyday needs.

It might have a special purpose or be a Jack of all trades for tasks you perform regularly.

Which add-in could you not live without, though?

This category is open to active free and paid add-ins compatible with Excel for Microsoft 365.

CATEGORY 03

Most Obscure Use of Excel

Many people have shown that Excel really is more than a glorified calculator. Innovative uses have popped up all over the web, whether it’s creative dashboards, animations, or games.

Its versatility is unrivalled. Afterall, it possesses the long-standing VBA, an extensive range of functions, and an underused set of design features.

But who has built something that’s gone far beyond the realms of normal Excel use?

This category is open to any individual as long as their work is publicly viewable on the web.

CATEGORY 04

Lifetime Achievement

Excel was first launched in 1985 when, predictably, its user base was minuscule compared to now. Although there’s been an explosion in content creators over the past decade, a small army of veterans exists.

They were the ones delivering training, writing books and helping others on forums when it wasn’t fashionable. They also swayed Excel’s evolution, submitting feedback and suggestions to help Microsoft improve the program.

Remarkably, some of them are still going. But who deserves the most recognition?

This category is only open to individuals with a proven presence in the Excel community before 2000.

CATEGORY 05

MVP in the Making

This individual has demonstrated outstanding Excel knowledge and community leadership through creating content, helping others, and participating in live events.

Their consistency is admirable, and they go above and beyond with everything they do.

However, there’s one thing missing — their achievements have not resulted in the highly acclaimed Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status — yet.

So…who should become an MVP?

This category is only open to individuals who’ve never been an MVP at any point in time.

Global Excel Awards logo

Global

Excel

Awards

Celebrating excellence in the Excel industry
View Winners
View Finalists

About the awards

In its inaugural edition, the Global Excel Awards gives you the chance to vote for those you believe most deserve recognition, with five categories up for grabs.

The choice is hard. After all, this enthusiastic community has surged in size over the years, with so many talented, helpful, and inspirational figures within it. But YOU can well and truly put them on the map.

A trophyGlobal Excel Summit logo

The Global Excel Awards is powered by Global Excel Summit, the world’s largest gathering of Excel users and experts. Our annual event welcomes thousands of people worldwide with a passion for supercharging their skills to accelerate career advancement.
‍
If you’ve attended, you’ll know many award contenders have delivered top-notch sessions. They include Microsoft MVPs, trainers, and social media sensations.

Road to
‍victory timeline

A timeline image

Categories

Most Influential
Professional in the
Excel Industry

1

There’s been a sizable increase in the number of Excel ‘influencers’ over the years.

But whether it’s video tutorials, articles, social media posts, or full-scale courses, this individual’s consistency in delivering content that educates and inspires is revered by many.

Who’s had the biggest impact on your Excel usage and overall workflow in daily life?

This category is open to all members of the Excel community.

An image that containes Leila Gharani as a winner.
An image that containes Leila Gharani as a finalist.
An image that containes Randy Austin as a finalist.
An image that containes Chintal Patel as a finalist.
An image that containes Rahim Ali as a finalist.
An image that containes a Leila Gharani presented as a winner.
An image that containes Zebra BI as a winner.
An image that containes OAK as a finalist.
An image that containes Zebra BI as a finalist.
An image that containes Mendo as a finalist.
An image that containes PerfectXL as a finalist.
An image that containes a ASAP utilities presented as a finalist.

Best Microsoft
Excel Add-in

2

Add-ins extend Excel’s capabilities, empowering you to execute tasks not possible or easily done natively.

Whether it’s productivity-boosting features, analysis tools, or additional chart options, this add-in is your go-to solution for everyday needs.

It might have a special purpose or be a Jack of all trades for tasks you perform regularly.

Which add-in could you not live without, though?

This category is open to active free and paid add-ins compatible with Excel for Microsoft 365.

Most Obscure Use of Excel

3

Many people have shown that Excel really is more than a glorified calculator. Innovative uses have popped up all over the web, whether it’s creative dashboards, animations, or games.

Its versatility is unrivalled. Afterall, it possesses the long-standing VBA, an extensive range of functions, and an underused set of design features.

But who has built something that’s gone far beyond the realms of normal Excel use?

This category is open to any individual as long as their work is publicly viewable on the web.

An image that containes Randy Austin as a winner
An image that containes a Randy Austin presented as a winner.
An image that containes a Leila Gharani presented as a winner.
An image that containes Patryk Samborski as a finalist.
An image that containes a Romeo Gherasim presented as a winner.
An image that containes Bill Jelen as a winner.
An image that containes Bill Jelen as a finalist.
An image that containes Bob Umlas as a finalist.
An image that containes a Liam Bastick presented as a winner.

Lifetime Achievement

4

Excel was first launched in 1985 when, predictably, its user base was minuscule compared to now. Although there’s been an explosion in content creators over the past decade, a small army of veterans exists.

They were the ones delivering training, writing books and helping others on forums when it wasn’t fashionable. They also swayed Excel’s evolution, submitting feedback and suggestions to help Microsoft improve the program.

Remarkably, some of them are still going. But who deserves the most recognition?

This category is only open to individuals with a proven presence in the Excel community before 2000.

An image that containes Chandeeb Chhabra as a winner.
An image that containes Rahim Ali presented as a finalist.
An image that containes Chintal Patel as a finalist.
An image that containes Andrew presented as a finalist.
An image that containes Chandeep Chhabra presented as a finalist.
An image that containes Andrew presented as a finalist.

MVP in the Making

5

This individual has demonstrated outstanding Excel knowledge and community leadership through creating content, helping others, and participating in live events.

Their consistency is admirable, and they go above and beyond with everything they do.

However, there’s one thing missing — their achievements have not resulted in the highly acclaimed Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status — yet.

So…who should become an MVP?

This category is only open to individuals who’ve never been an MVP at any point in time.

Nominate Now

Voting rules

Voting is now closed.

After counting takes place, winners for each of the five categories will be announced on 19 June 2023.

Read All Rules

What winners get

An image of a badge

Badge

A shining symbol of victory engraved with your name and achievement. Will yours go on your mantelpiece?

An image that represents Speaker Slot

Speaker Slot

Qualify automatically as a Global Excel Summit 2024 speaker. Step into the spotlight and deliver the session of your dreams.

Certificate

Certificate

A document of distinction with your name and achievement firmly inscribed. How about photo-framing it to stick up on the wall, eh?

Trophy

Trophy

Have the honour of being among the first to go into the Global Excel Awards hall of fame!