diff --git a/backend/pashub_fetcher/trigger_pashub_sqs_from_file.py b/backend/pashub_fetcher/trigger_pashub_sqs_from_file.py
index f4c03afc..c751171a 100644
--- a/backend/pashub_fetcher/trigger_pashub_sqs_from_file.py
+++ b/backend/pashub_fetcher/trigger_pashub_sqs_from_file.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def _build_requests(excel_path: str) -> list[PashubToAraTriggerRequest]:
     pashub_col: int = headers["PasHub link"]
     record_id_col: int = headers["Record ID"]
     deal_name_col: int = headers["Deal Name"]
-    deal_stage_col: int = headers["Deal Stage"]
+    deal_stage_col: Optional[int] = headers["Deal Stage"]
 
     requests: list[PashubToAraTriggerRequest] = []
 
@@ -77,7 +77,9 @@ def _build_requests(excel_path: str) -> list[PashubToAraTriggerRequest]:
 
         record_id_raw = ws.cell(row=row, column=record_id_col).value
         deal_name_raw = ws.cell(row=row, column=deal_name_col).value
-        deal_stage_raw = ws.cell(row=row, column=deal_stage_col).value
+        deal_stage_raw = (
+            ws.cell(row=row, column=deal_stage_col).value if deal_stage_col else None
+        )
 
         hubspot_deal_id: Optional[str] = (
             str(record_id_raw) if record_id_raw is not None else None