Isenberg's Nora Junaid Celebrates Best-selling Book on Excel

Microsoft Excel celebrates its 40th birthday this year, and author Nora Junaid, PhD, a lecturer in Isenberg’s Department of Operations and Information Management at UMass Amherst and an Excel influencer on social media, couldn’t have cheered the milestone in a more appropriate way.

In May, the Excel whiz self-published her first book, Excel Ninja: A Guide from Zero to Hero, and it’s since become a bestseller across four categories on Amazon: Kindle Edition-ranked in Microsoft Office Guides, Microsoft Programming, Microsoft C&C++ Windows Programming, and Spreadsheets Books. Its paperback edition hit bestseller status in the Spreadsheet Books category.

What started as Junaid sharing tips and tricks on her Instagram handle @Excel.Ninja for her Isenberg students ended up reaching millions of people around the world.

“I teach large classes, and to make sure the students learn and retain the content, I created a series of short, simplified, and fun videos that teach them Excel skills and shortcuts,” she said. “I’ve also built a strong presence on Instagram, where I share regular Excel tips with a community of over 250,000 followers. I created it to continue making Excel fun, visual, and accessible.”

Last year, she was invited by Microsoft Office to become an Excel Ambassador. In April 2025, she organized the Northeast’s first Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge at Isenberg. Approximately 150 students from nine colleges and universities attended the event in the Berthiaume Business Innovation Hub, during which they got to compete in the ultimate test of Excel skills.

And, this past June, she received the Microsoft MVP Award, which recognizes exceptional Excel community leaders for their technical expertise, leadership, speaking experience, online influence, and commitment to solving real-world problems.

Students Inspire Writing the Book on Excel

Following the success of Excel Ninja’s social media presence, which has reached people around the world, Junaid said she felt inspired to take things one step further and create a more permanent, structured resource—hence publishing her manual.

“Many of my students began asking me to compile into a book all the simplified tips, tricks, and hacks I’ve shared,” she said. “They were looking for something practical they could use in their internships and other courses. When my followers began asking for a book as well, I thought, ‘Why not?’ That is what sparked the idea for Excel Ninja, the book.”

But it’s not just your traditional textbook: It’s an interactive, results-driven learning experience designed to help individuals quickly and effectively master the software program. Paired with an assessment tool called ExPrep, the book allows students to immediately apply what they’ve learned and receive real-time feedback, which accelerates their learning process.

The book’s learning method and material have been tested and proven by thousands of students across both online and in-person courses. Students who master the Excel skills are dubbed “ninjas,” reflecting the idea that—like a ninja honing their abilities through constant practice and refinement—achieving Excel proficiency requires a similar approach: consistent practice and ongoing growth.

Excel Ninja: Part Deux

The sequel is already in the works, according to Junaid, and it will explore the interaction between artificial intelligence tools and Excel.

“AI is no longer a side feature—it’s actually becoming the core interface,” she said. “This next book will explore that shift. It will not be about Excel formulas anymore; it’s going to be more about conversations with intelligent systems.”

When Junaid began her Excel Ninja journey, she never imagined the impact her social media channels, book, course, and community would have.

“To see this work reach such a wide audience and gain that level of recognition has been incredibly rewarding,” said Junaid. “It reassures me that the content I am building resonates with learners. Being able to bring both the perspective of a Microsoft MVP and a bestselling author into the Isenberg classroom allows me to show my students that the tools they are learning are not only academically important but also impactful on a broader scale.”