By Carson Alexander, @deca.carson | Memphis University School, TN
The business landscape is shifting faster than ever, and, as DECA members, you're not just preparing for competitions; you're preparing for careers in a world where yesterday's strategies cannot necessarily guarantee tomorrow's success.
Here are three essential skills every DECA student should implement to thrive in 2026 and beyond.
1. Tech Fluency is Non-Negotiable
Al isn't replacing business leaders, but business leaders who use Al are replacing those who don't. The same goes for data analytics, automation tools and digital collaboration platforms. Technology literacy is now foundational and critical for one’s development.
For DECA competitors, this means two things:
- Use technology strategically: Whether you're analyzing market data for a written event or developing a marketing campaign for a role-play, demonstrate how modern tools enhance decision-making. Judges notice when competitors show understanding of how businesses actually operate in 2026.
- Build your tech skills: Experiment with AI for market research, learn basic data visualization and get comfortable with customer relationship management. These are skills employers expect today. The learning curve is gentler than you think, and the competitive advantage is immediate.
Always remember that technology amplifies your thinking, but never replaces it. Your creativity, judgment and emotional intelligence are what make you irreplaceable.
2. Adaptability Over Expertise
Here's an uncomfortable truth: much of what you're learning today will evolve or become obsolete within a few years. The business world of 2026 rewards people who can learn quickly, pivot gracefully and stay confident amid uncertainty.
What this means for your DECA journey:
- You must go beyond memorization: When preparing for events, try to understand the underlying principles rather than mindlessly reciting what you have learned. That way, when the scenario throws you a curveball (and it will), you can adapt your knowledge instead of freezing up.
- Develop industry awareness: Follow business publications, listen to podcasts with industry leaders and track emerging trends. When you can connect your competition solutions to real-world developments, you demonstrate the strategic thinking judges want to see.
The competitors who win aren't always those with perfect knowledge. They're the ones who think on their feet, synthesize information quickly and communicate confidently even when they don't have all the answers.
3. Relationship Building is Your Competitive Edge
You may have heard the phrase, “your network becomes your net worth”; in an increasingly automated world, this is truer than ever. The relationships you build during your DECA years can open doors to internships, mentorships, business partnerships, and career opportunities you can't even imagine yet.
Here's how to start building now:
- Network authentically: The business professionals you meet at conferences, your chapter advisors, guest speakers and competition judges are more than just faces in the crowd. Connect with them on LinkedIn, ask thoughtful questions and follow up after events. Most people are genuinely happy to help students who show initiative and curiosity.
- Build peer relationships: Your fellow DECA members are future business leaders. The connections you make now may become your most valuable professional network.
- Collaborate generously, celebrate others' successes and maintain those relationships beyond competition season.
- Don't approach networking as transactional. Focus on genuine connection, offer value where you can and stay curious about others' experiences and insights. Authentic relationships are what last.
Putting It All Together
Your path to ICDC and career success is becoming someone who can read the business landscape, identify opportunities and think like a leader. The business world of 2026 needs professionals who are technically capable, strategically adaptive and genuinely connected to the people around them. It needs people who can leverage artificial intelligence without losing their human touch, who can pivot when markets shift and who can build teams that trust and inspire each other.
As you prepare for your next competition, ask yourself: Am I just learning to win role-plays, or am I building the skills that will make me valuable in any business context? The answer to that question is what separates competitors from future business leaders.
The business world of 2026 is already here. Your DECA experience has positioned you to succeed in it-but only if you're intentional about developing the skills that matter most. Start now, stay curious and remember: the real win isn't what happens on competition day. It's who you're becoming in the process.
