Videos
Filter by division:

Take Your Community Service to the Next Level with Lead4Change
The Lead4Change Leadership programs offer numerous benefits for students. An independent research study found that participating in Lead4Change contributed to significant growth in areas such as leadership skills (60% of students improved), respect for others (54%) and ambition and innovation (53%). Teachers can have equally transformative experiences.

A Quick Guide to Understanding Servant Leadership
The concept of leadership has been around since the days of Aristotle and Plato and has evolved countless times throughout the centuries. But in 1970, a new theory emerged. Developed by Robert Greenleaf, servant leadership is the idea that empowered leaders serve their followers and to enable them to live and work to their full potential.

The Ethics of Leadership
Ethical leaders exist in all walks of life. They are the individuals who step forward when crises occur, come to the rescue of others and generally do what's right—no matter what. Anyone can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk? In today's high-visibility, social world, more people are taking note of leaders’ behavior and holding them accountable.

DECA Direct Magazine: Next Level Leadership
A new school year brings new chances to elevate your leadership to the next level. Discover fresh ideas to enhance your chapter and become a leader worth following in your school, community and beyond.

The Next Level is Inclusion
It has never been more important for emerging leaders to be characterized by teamwork, innovation, competency and integrity. Fortunately, those are the valued characteristics of DECA’s student leaders. What if this moment needs you and the unique values that drive your leadership?

Top Tips for Socially-distant Membership Recruitment
Building your chapter’s membership is one of the most important ways to set it up for success in the new school year. But what are the best ways to recruit within the “new normal” of more virtual interactions and less in-person activities? Learn how to recruit new members the socially-distant way with these top tips.

The Power of the Diamond
Throughout your DECA career, you’ll wear the blazer, throw up a DECA diamond symbol and add lots of blue to your wardrobe. You will also undoubtedly hear DECA’s core values and mission statement more times than you can count. But have you ever stopped to think about what they really mean?

Cultivate Your Chapter’s Culture
2020 is a year that has changed all of our lives. If your DECA chapter has experienced a decline in recent months, struggling to cope with virtual meetings and maintain engagement, your chapter culture may need a boost.

Discover Your DECA Leadership Style
There are hundreds of assessments to help you pinpoint your leadership traits, but the only one you need to take your leadership to the next level is the DECA Leadership Style Quiz.

Influence with Informal Leadership
While you may not have an official leadership title, you still have the ability to help take your chapter to the #NextLevel with your informal leadership influence. Read on to learn more about informal leadership and how you can use it to make this year a success for you and your chapter.

5 Tips for Your Freshman Year
Entering high school can be a nerve-wracking experience, but remember you're not alone! To help calm your nerves and ensure you start off on the right foot, follow these five tips for your freshman year.

DECA Members Raise $7,000 Through the MDA Muscle Corp Program
DECA members raised over $7,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) this summer through the pilot MDA Muscle Corp Program. Twenty-one DECA members successfully completed the program and earned 40 hours of community service.

How to Track Your Chapter’s Summer Goals Like a Pro
Summer is the perfect time to build momentum for your DECA chapter. Start small, stay organized, check in often and keep your purpose in focus to turn summer goals into real success when school starts.

Ingredients of Successful Chapter Leadership
Successful management for DECA depends on teamwork, roles, motivation, communication, flexibility, planning and leadership. These are the recipes for a successful team that can do incredible things and learn together.

Innovative Advisors Wanted for DECA Advisor of the Week
Help DECA spotlight advisors from across the organization for their creative, original and effective best practices in their classroom and in their chapter.

Helping Your DECA Members Avoid Penalty Points: A Guide for Advisors
As DECA advisors, one of our crucial roles is helping student members navigate the technical requirements of written events. Use this article to guide your student members in avoiding common penalty point deductions.

Stand Out with Gratitude: Why DECA Members Should Embrace Thank-You Notes
Gen Z was a generation raised on texting, DMs and 24/7 connectivity. Sitting down to write a thank-you card might feel outdated or even awkward. But in the professional world, that’s exactly what makes it such a powerful move.

From Idea to CDECA ICDC: A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a Collegiate DECA Chapter
Starting a Collegiate DECA chapter might seem a lot at first, but with the right plan and the right team, it’ll become an exciting and rewarding journey. You’ll get to lead, compete, grow and build a legacy brand on your campus.

Balancing College and Collegiate DECA: Tips for Success
Being a Collegiate DECA member means pushing yourself to be a leader in and out of the classroom. Whether you’re juggling classes, jobs or leadership roles, staying on track takes strategy. Here are four key ways to balance both and thrive.

Excelling During Freshman Year
Your first year in college will be very different from anything you’ve experienced before, so make sure to enjoy your time and make the most of it. This article gives you some helpful tips for a successful first year of college.

The Summer of DECA Quest
Summer of DECA is ready for takeoff! This digital scavenger hunt is packed with exciting missions and will be updated weekly throughout the summer. From catching sunsets to mapping out your 2025-2026 DECA goals, there's an adventure waiting for everyone.

2025 Advisor Professional Learning Virtual Conference Keynote Speaker & Sessions
DECA is excited to share a look at the 2025 Advisor Professional Learning Virtual Conference keynote speaker and sessions. Join us on July 23-24 for two days filled with content focusing on instructional content that connects DECA to the classroom.

Leading with Pride: Empowering LGBTQ+ DECA Members
Pride Month is a chance to reflect on our progress and the work we still need to do. Whether someone is just joining DECA or stepping into a leadership role, they deserve to see that there’s a path forward for them, just as they are.

DECA Hosts Luminary Program Powered by Adobe in San Francisco
This elite professional development experience brings together distinguished DECA chapter advisors from across the DECA network to deepen their leadership, instructional, and digital skills in a unique “train-the-trainer” format.
Most Recent Articles
View All Articles
The College Student’s Guide to LinkedIn
Let's be real, college is stressful enough without having the added stress of thinking about your future career. Here are five fun and practical ways to start using LinkedIn today to better your chances at landing your dream career.

The Goal of Goals
Summer is a great time for college students to relax after the busy school year and difficult finals. It is also the perfect time to evaluate progress on your goals and start planning for the future.

Recharge, Reassess and Restore: Your Chapter’s Guide to a Successful Summer
DECA doesn’t have to stop just because school is out. As a leader, take advantage of the summer months to prepare your chapter best to Go The Extra in the fall with three key tips: recharge, reassess and restore.

Navigating the Summer Before College
The summer before college is a unique and often overlooked chapter in the story of your academic journey. It’s a season that offers more than rest – it’s an opportunity to intentionally prepare, reflect and reset.

The Best Leaders Go The Extra—Starting In The Summer
The summer months offer the perfect opportunity to get a head start on your goals before the school year kicks into high gear. Here are some tips to help you start your officer term off strong!

Level Up This Summer: The Strength of Volunteering
Leadership doesn't end when the school year does, and neither should your impact. Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling ways to level up as a student, leader and citizen.

Finish Strong, Start Stronger: Carrying This Year’s DECA Lessons into the Future
It’s time to reflect on all you’ve accomplished—and more importantly, what you’ve learned. As summer begins, you’re presented with an opportunity: to take those lessons and use them to fuel what’s next.

Case Study of the Week: Redesigning All-Star Weekend
Step into the role of the director of public relations for the NBA. The senior vice president wants you to redesign the NBA All-Star weekend to create fan interest and increase return-on-investment for sponsors.

Download ICDC 2025 Certificates and Competitor Performance Reports
Learn how to download certificates and competitive event performance reports from DECA's 2025 Collegiate and High School International Career Development Conferences.

Your Guide to Understanding DECA ICDC's Competitive Event Process and Performance Reports
If you're looking for more information on DECA's International Career Development Conference competitive events process and performance reports, look no further! Explore these frequently asked questions and answers.

Case Study of the Week: Creating a Ring of Champions
Step into the role of the owner of Smokers Ring, a company that makes barbeque smokers. Your business partner wants you to design a Smokers Ring customer community to build the brand.

Farewell from Your 2024-2025 High School Division Executive Officers
As we bid farewell as your 2024-2025 High School Executive Officer Team, we want to thank you for trusting us throughout this term. Because of you, we were able to #BeTheOne.