Excel Champion Diarmuid Early Shares Essential Tips for Success

Diarmuid Early emerged victorious at the 2025 Microsoft Excel World Championship, showcasing his exceptional skills in spreadsheet management. As a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience, Early has invaluable insights for modern office workers seeking to enhance their productivity with Excel.

Early, who previously worked at Boston Consulting Group and Deutsche Bank, now runs his own Excel consulting firm. His journey with Excel began in college, where he first experimented with the software, leading to a professional focus on data analysis and reporting. Winning the championship was a significant achievement for Early, especially after several near-misses in previous years.

Transforming Excel Skills for Everyday Use

In a recent conversation with Business Insider, Early emphasized the importance of believing that there is a more efficient way to complete tasks in Excel. He encourages office workers to recognize when they are engaged in manual and repetitive tasks, such as extensive copying and pasting. “If you find yourself thinking, ‘I’ve been doing this for ten minutes and still have fifteen to go,’ it’s time to search for a better solution,” he advised.

Early suggests that a simple search on platforms like Google or even AI tools can often reveal solutions that others have already discovered. He noted that approximately 80% of the challenges he encountered in Excel could be resolved through a quick online search.

One of his key recommendations is to learn the SUMIFS function. Although mastering it may take longer initially, Early assures users that the long-term benefits are substantial. “The first time might be slow, but as you practice, the speed and accuracy will increase exponentially,” he explained.

The Importance of Critical Thinking

Early also highlighted the need for critical thinking in Excel tasks. He pointed out that many junior employees tend to focus solely on generating answers rather than questioning their validity. “Getting to the answer quickly is great, but taking the time to reflect on whether it makes sense is crucial,” he stated. This practice not only builds credibility but also helps in identifying potential errors before they escalate.

He expressed concern about the common practice of entering numerous values into formulas manually, citing it as a recipe for mistakes. “When I see a formula with 50 different numbers added together, I know someone has likely typed them all by hand,” he said, stressing the inefficiency and potential for errors in such practices.

As technology advances, Early recognizes the potential role of AI in improving Excel skills. “If AI can teach me something new about Excel, that could diminish the demand for human Excel users,” he remarked. He believes that while AI might assist beginners, those with substantial experience will still find value in traditional learning methods.

Beyond technical skills, Early shared that his passion for teaching others has been a rewarding aspect of his career. He recalled moments during training sessions when participants would experience a mix of joy and dismay upon learning a new technique that could save them hours of work. “That realization—that they could have avoided a late-night session—sticks with them,” he said.

Winning the Microsoft Excel World Championship has not only validated Early’s expertise but also provided him with a platform to advocate for more efficient and thoughtful use of Excel in the workplace. His advice serves as a reminder that with the right approach, office workers can transform their productivity and significantly enhance their career trajectories.