The Future of Excel: Giles Male on Skills, Strategy & Self-Belief
“Why can’t you have a long-term digital strategy and help your team save time right now with the tools they already use?”
Chris and Mike sit down with Giles Male — founder of Full Stack Modeler, Excel MVP, and all-around spreadsheet showman — to talk about what it means to be an Excel pro in a post-Excel world. From how he turned a missed promotion into a career of purpose, to founding a training business and becoming an unlikely eSports contender, Giles explains why sharpening your Excel skills can be more transformative than flashy tech.
They dive into why leadership should focus on upskilling with the tools people actually use, not just investing in the next shiny solution. Along the way, there’s discussion on digital transformation, personal branding, social media’s role in finance, and of course, Giles’s now-infamous alter ego: The Humble MVP. This episode blends hard truths with humour, strategy with silliness — and yes, even a white fur coat.
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Author
“Chris Argent isn’t here to play by finance’s old rulebook - he’s here to rewrite it.” From challenging outdated corporate thinking to rallying finance leaders around a more connected, adaptable future, the founder of GENCFO is leading a quiet revolution in how CFOs and finance leadership work, think, and influence. Chris Argent, founder of GENCFO, is a finance leader redefining the role beyond business partnering. A self-described “reluctant accountant,” he’s built a global community for progressive accounting and finance leaders who value connection over competition and action over tradition. Chris believes the greatest risk to the profession is clinging to outdated norms, and that mindset and adaptability outpace any technological change. His work champions leaders who turn new ideas into real-world change, blending people-centred strategies with new ways of working and technology. In conversations, he challenges, provokes, and inspires - proving that the future of finance belongs to those ready to lead it together.