Mentoring Modern Excel Development

Mentoring Modern Excel Development with Power Query

Learn how to build better Excel solutions.

Excel mentoring is for people who already work in Excel and want to improve how they design and build solutions.

This is not canned training. We work one-on-one, starting with what you already know, what you need to accomplish, and the technologies that make sense for the work you actually do.

We explain the concepts, demonstrate how they work in real business solutions, answer your questions and help you determine how to apply them. Then you do the work.

The goal isn’t to learn more Excel. It’s to become better at designing Excel solutions.

This Is Not Excel Training

Training and mentoring serve different purposes.

Traditional training usually starts with an agenda: these are the features, functions or tools that will be covered.

Mentoring starts somewhere else:

What are you trying to build?

We look at what you already know, what you are trying to accomplish and where the gaps are. Then we concentrate on the concepts and technologies that will actually help you.

We explain why we would approach a problem a certain way, demonstrate the technique, answer questions and let you work through it yourself.

You are expected to do the heavy lifting between sessions. Build something. Test it. Break it. Fix it. Come back with questions.

Why. How. Now go build it.

That is where the real learning happens.

Learn to Think About Excel Differently

Modern Excel development is about more than knowing functions.

When we design an Excel solution, we don’t automatically start with cells and formulas. We think about Tables, objects, queries, relationships, arrays, processes and outputs.

Where should the data live? How should it get there? What transformations should happen before the data reaches the worksheet? What should the user see? What can happen offsheet? What should be automated?

Those decisions are often more important than the individual formula you eventually write.

This is the thinking behind Excel Beyond the CELL and FLUID Excel Solutions.

Beyond the CELL is about how we design the solution.

FLUID is about how data moves through it.

The right data. In the right place. Using the right tool.

What We Mentor

There is no fixed curriculum. What we cover depends on what you already know and what you need to build.

Topics can include:

Excel Tables and structured data
Power Query
M-Code
Excel Data Model and relationships
PivotTables and Slicers
Dynamic Arrays and Spill Ranges
FILTER, LET, LAMBDA, GROUPBY and PIVOTBY
VBA
Office Scripts
Power Automate
SharePoint and external data
Onsheet vs. Offsheet development
Automation and refreshable solutions
Relational and database concepts in Excel
AI-assisted Excel development
Overall solution architecture

You don’t need to learn all of these technologies.

You need to understand which ones matter for the solutions you build.

Choosing the Right Tool Is Part of the Skill

There are usually several ways to accomplish the same thing in Excel.

The harder question is deciding which approach makes sense for the solution you are building.

Power Query or an onsheet formula?
FILTER or a traditional lookup?
Worksheet or Data Model?
Table or Spill Range?
VBA or Office Scripts?
Onsheet or offsheet?
Manual, automated or hybrid?

Knowing how to use a tool is useful. Knowing when and why to use it is a development skill.

That is a major part of mentoring.

How One-on-One Excel Mentoring Works

Mentoring is remote and one-on-one.

We start by talking about what you currently do in Excel, what you already know and what you want to be able to build.

From there, the sessions develop around you.

Start with the requirement. What are you trying to accomplish?
Look at the architecture. How should the solution be designed?
Choose the tools. Which Excel and Microsoft 365 technologies fit the requirement?
Demonstrate the concepts. We show you how and explain why.
You build. The real learning happens when you apply it yourself.
Review and refine. Bring the work and the questions back to the next session.

Some people need help with one specific concept. Others work with us over several sessions while they redesign the way they develop Excel solutions.

There is no requirement to follow a predetermined course.

Who Is Excel Development Mentoring For?

Most mentoring clients already use Excel regularly. Some are analysts. Some are consultants. Some are business users who have gradually become the person everyone turns to when something needs to be built in Excel.

Mentoring is particularly useful for:

Intermediate Excel developers who want to move into advanced development
Advanced developers who want to modernize the way they build
Analysts building repeatable business processes
Excel consultants expanding their development skills
Business users building solutions for their own organizations
Developers moving from traditional Excel into Excel 365, Power Query and the Data Model

You do not need to know everything before you start. That’s the point.

For people who are newer to Excel and need a more structured introduction, we also provide one-on-one Excel training.

Real Excel Mentoring

We mentor using the same concepts we use when developing real business solutions. The work is practical because the questions are practical.

Advanced Financial Model

An experienced Excel developer came to us with a sophisticated investment model he had built himself. He already knew Excel well. He didn’t need a beginner or intermediate course.

He needed help with specific areas of advanced Excel development, including automation and Dynamic Arrays.

A few focused one-on-one sessions allowed the mentoring to concentrate entirely on those gaps rather than spending time teaching things he already knew.

5-star client review of Excel mentoring services

Client feedback from one of our Excel mentoring engagements.

Construction Estimating Solution

A construction company wanted to replace an existing estimating process with a solution their own people could build and maintain.

The estimators already had solid Excel skills. What they needed was help understanding how to approach the new solution using current Excel development methods.

We worked with them on Excel Tables, Power Query, Dynamic Arrays, automation and the architecture behind the solution.

Instead of building it for them, we helped them develop the skills and understanding to build it themselves.

5-star review of Excel training and mentoring services

Client feedback on our one-on-one Excel training and mentoring.

Who Does the Mentoring?

I work directly with mentoring clients, just as I work directly with our development clients.

I am recognized by Microsoft as both an Excel MVP and Access MVP, and I have more than 20 years of experience developing business solutions using Excel, Access, SQL Server and database technologies.

That database background is important. It influences how I think about Excel: structured data, Tables, relationships, keys, joins, queries and processes rather than simply cells and formulas.

When a mentoring requirement benefits from a particular area of expertise, I can also work with members of The Association, a small international network of Microsoft MVPs spanning Excel, Access, Data, Business Intelligence and Power Platform.

The point isn’t to teach from a course.

It is to teach from experience building solutions.

AI Is Changing Excel Development Too

Excel development is changing again.

AI can now help developers learn unfamiliar technologies, explore different approaches, write and review code, test ideas and accelerate parts of the development process.

We use AI in our own development work, and it can also be part of mentoring when it makes sense.

But using AI effectively still requires understanding the problem you are trying to solve. You need to know what to ask for, how the pieces should fit together and whether the result actually makes sense.

AI changes how we develop. It does not eliminate the need to understand development.

The tools change. Good development decisions still matter.

Become a Better Excel Developer

You don’t need another list of Excel features to memorize.

You need to understand how modern Excel works, which tools fit the problems you solve, and how to put those tools together into better business solutions.

That’s what our mentoring is designed to teach.

Want to become a better Excel developer?

Let’s talk about what you’re trying to build and what you want to learn.

Contact Excel and Access, LLC for a Free Consultation

Toll-Free: 877.392.3539 | Irvine, California: 949.612.3366 | Manhattan, New York: 646.205.3261

2 Comments

Brea Black April 11, 2024 at 7:15 pm - Reply

This has been a fantastic solution to help me learn while building my spreadsheet in a timely fashion. I feel equipped to do programming and further development on my own based on Christopher’s mentorship.
excelandaccess April 11, 2024 at 7:19 pm - Reply

Brea, it has been such a joy mentoring you. You learn so fast.

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Elizabeth Hand

16:38 15 Jul 21

The team and Excel and Access are very efficient, friendly and professional. I'm confident that when I send a project to them, it will be done quicker than I expected it and done perfectly.Thanks!

BC Synapse

23:32 02 Feb 21

I arranged for two 1.5 hour sessions on Microsoft Excel Tips and Tricks sessions for my organization in January 2021. I am 100% satisfied with the service. Chris and Maria were very responsive to my initial inquiries and helping me with setting up the virtual sessions. This company provide consulting services on various applications and I liked how I was able to customize my sessions by selecting the tips and tricks to be shared- it was 100% customizable.Our trainer, Bob Umlas, was superb in the delivery of both sessions. He provided an Excel workbook and shared his screen to show all the tips and tricks on how to use Excel more efficiently. The sessions were also recorded so that staff could rewatch the lessons again at a later date. Overall I was very please with the company's services and would work with this company again should future opportunities arise.

Christine Williams

20:52 01 Feb 21

These guys are the excel experts! They take our complicated needs and turn them into easy tools that we can use and run on the daily basis. Quick turnaround as well, the latest project we needed help with they completed and had back to me in 24-hours!

John Gebbia

22:45 18 Dec 20

Excel and Access was a great pick for our excel training needs. The training class was very easy to follow and Bob our instructor was very knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend and will be going back to them for future training needs.

Kelly WILKEN

20:01 03 Dec 20

Jacob was fantastic to work with. I was tasked with developing an easy way to track our Corporate Training across all departments and positions based on company requirements and hire date. I knew there had to be a way to do it in Excel with formulas, but it was way above my skill set. I contacted Excel and Access, and they listened to my needs and paired me with Jacob. He was very responsive and was quickly able to come up with precisely what I needed. He was great at making the necessary tweaks, including creating a “GENERATE” button in bright red so that I couldn’t miss it. I can now run all of my reports with all of my different conditions with the click of that big beautiful red GENERATE button. I will definitely reach out to Excel and Access and Jacob for my future needs.

Steven Kurtz

20:12 22 Aug 20

I'm not Pepsi, Amazon or any of their big clients...just a guy with a small, boutique private psychology practice 3,000 miles away in NY. Every time I need these guys they are there...got my project started ASAP, turn around time was amazing and best of all, any and all tweaks were handled ASAP until we got all the bugs out. Admittedly I was afraid we'd settle on a price and I might not be able to make edits. But no worries - each and every edit, debug done with a virtual smile and ASAP. Well worth the money and they won't disappoint. A pleasure to write a positive review for them!

Jerelene Tan

00:18 24 Feb 18

I have engaged Jacob to help me with an Aging Report. He quickly provided me with a solution which I didn't think of. I would highly recommend his service to anyone who needs excel help.

Demetrios Lambrou

03:30 17 Oct 17

I have been assisted once again, by Paul this time, quick and effectively, even though it has been a weekend. So many thanks!!!! Such a great support to Excel users and Excel programmers alike!

Mitch Goins

15:06 01 Aug 17

I had an Excel problem that I could not crack without extreme effort on my part. I contacted Excel and Access via email. I received a prompt response then described my problem and indicated that I really wanted to remunerate them for their (Christopher and Jacob) time and effort. They honed in on my problem description with only 2 very helpful emails that showed me how to solve my problem. I was very impressed and grateful. There was never a mention of any charges. They are consummate professionals. I can see why they are Microsoft MVP's.

Michael Bell

12:22 09 Jun 17

Chris and Paul were amazing. We hit them with a project last minute and they dropped everything and came through within hours. The work was done professionally and exactly as we needed and at a very reasonable price. We were very pleased.

Bret Linford

20:16 30 May 17

Excel and Access, LLC were super responsive. They really went above and beyond my expectations. They were able to customize directly to my needs. The automation they delivered is very fast and easy to use. I'd use them again in a second. AND they're nice people, too. ?

Chris DeSantis

19:10 07 May 17

Our experience with Excel and Access. LLC was excellent. Chris and his team of very skilled professionals were able to help us out immediately. After just a brief discussion of the project we hired them for, they completed the work and exceeded our expectations in just hours. I have used Chris and his team on numerous projects over the span of 10 years. I am consistently impressed with how quick the payback is, and how well his team understands my requirements and delivers a product that exceeds my expectations. His team is always available anytime of day or night to help or answer questions. We highly recommend Excel and Access, LLC for anyone searching for highly effective and easy to use productivity tools.

Jacqueline

13:10 21 Mar 17

I had the pleasure of working with Excel & Access on a very intricate Excel project involving a massive spreadsheet that housed years’ worth of data. After having two other firms take on the project and then bail, I was panicked and desperate to get the project completed in what was now a very tight time frame. I worked with Christopher and Jacob and couldn’t be more delighted with the level of customer service I received. Jacob is extremely knowledgeable, and also incredibly responsive. My e-mails were answered immediately and the project was completed quickly, ahead of my deadline, thanks to his working nights and even over the weekend to get it done. I felt as if I were the only client he was working with at the time! Jacob made a difficult, tedious assignment look like child’s play. Excel & Access are fabulous to work with and are now my go-to for any Excel need, large or small. Good customer service is difficult to come by, but they nail it! If you are looking for help with an Excel project, I recommend Excel & Access without reservation. You won’t be disappointed.

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Mentoring Modern Excel Development