Everybody's Business Big Take Bonus: Why We Can’t Quit Microsoft Excel
Dec 10, 2025
Max Chafkin, a Businessweek journalist, and Dina Bass, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in Microsoft and AI, explore the wild world of Microsoft Excel. They discuss its unexpected status as an esports phenomenon thanks to the Excel World Championship. The duo dives into Excel's cultural baggage, from productivity paragon to capitalist drudgery. Despite new contenders like Google Sheets and AI tools, they argue Excel's unique format and reliability keep it irreplaceable in the corporate realm. Why can’t we quit it? Tune in to find out!
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Excel As An Esport
- The Excel World Championship showcases players entering like pro athletes and racing to solve spreadsheet challenges.
- Competitors use keyboard shortcuts and live commentary, turning spreadsheet work into a spectator esport.
Excel Runs The Business World
- Excel has become one of the most influential programs because it underpins business operations across organizations.
- Its ubiquity makes it synonymous with both productivity and corporate drudgery.
Ballmer's Personal Spreadsheet
- Steve Ballmer showed a detailed personal spreadsheet tracking budget, travel, and nights away from home.
- His extreme spreadsheet habit illustrated how people use Excel to organize daily life beyond pure computation.