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Case Study of the Week: Using Current Staff to Help Recruit New Staff
Step into the role of the director of human resources at the National Organization of Zoos and Aquariums (NOZA), a nonprofit organization that educates, promotes and advocates for local zoos and aquariums.
Pitch Decks: Your Questions Answered
New for the 2025-26 school year, six competitive events will replace the previously required 10-page written paper with a 20-slide pitch deck. Check out this article for answers to questions about the change to Pitch Decks.
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.
In the Judge's Mind: What Makes You Stand Out in Your DECA Role-play
Go beyond the official rubric to reveal the unwritten expectations of role-play judges to hear from several experienced judges about the details that separate the solid role-plays from the unforgettable ones.
Advisor Best Practice Spotlight of the Week: Katrina McDowell
Discover how High Plains Technology Center advisor Katrina McDowell is engaging members in marketing management through the Woodward community.
Congratulations to the 2025 Competition University Chapter Climb Challenge Winners
Competition University and DECA Inc. are thrilled to announce the top three teams of the 2025 Competition University Chapter Climb Challenge!
The DECA Drop Episode 2: Personal Branding & Networking
Your 2025–2026 Executive Officer Team saw how podcasts were taking off and wanted to give DECA members the same kind of experience: a place to pick up tips, hear updates and get to know our team!
Case Study of the Week: Marketing a Cruise of the World
Step into the role of the marketing manager for Lantern Cruises, the largest cruise line brand by revenue. The director of marketing wants you to develop a marketing plan that will sell spots on the Platinum World Tour cruise.
Getting Into the Giving Season
From food drives, service events, or acts of kindness within their own schools, members have the opportunity to use this time of year to positively impact their community while living out DECA's mission of leadership and service.
The Power of Ethical Consumerism: How Gen Z Is Redefining Brand Loyalty
For decades, businesses have relied on catchy slogans, sleek packaging and competitive prices to capture the hearts of consumers. But for Gen Z, such aesthetics aren’t enough to win long-lasting faithfulness.
Making Connections Count: Networking Tips for Power Trip and Beyond
Networking can open doors to new friendships, leadership opportunities and future career prospects. Here are a few ways to make those conversations count this fall.
Power Up Your Experience in Arlington, VA
Whether you're from Arlington, TX, Arlington Heights, IL, or anywhere in between, here are seven ways you can make your mark in Arlington, Virginia, at the Ultimate DECA Power Trip.
DECA Direct Magazine: De-stress
Between school, volunteering, extracurricular activities and DECA, there’s never a shortage of things to do! Learn how to hit pause, slow down and discover the best ways to manage your stress.
5 Apps to Ease Your Stress
Looking to beat bad stress? Rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram or stress-shopping on Amazon, turn to these apps to breathe, play and move your way to less stress!
Build Better Habits (and Break Your Bad Ones!)
Having the right habits is more important than ever as you navigate a busy school year. Read on to learn how you can create better habits in any area of your life, plus our tips and tricks for getting rid of your bad habits for good!
Mindfulness Your Way
You may have heard about mindfulness in one of your classes, and perhaps you’ve even tried meditating a time or two. For many people, meditation and other mindfulness practices are a go-to source for stress relief, getting in the zone before a role-play or resetting emotions after encountering an upsetting situation.
De-stress for Success
Life will always throw challenges your way, but the biggest challenges present opportunities for the greatest rewards. So, what’s the best way to manage stress? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some of the ways that work best for me.
Stress to Success: How to Use "Good Stress" to Succeed in Competition
Stress is often perceived as a negative experience, but the right kind of stress can actually fuel your success in competition and beyond. Read on to learn about "good stress", how to distinguish it from the bad and ways you can harness it to take your competitive edge to the next level!
Work Out the Stress
Today’s teens pack a lot into their busy schedules, which has caused stress levels and anxiety to increase in recent years. D’Andre Vasquez, DECA’s 2019-2020 High School Division President, discusses how he handles the stress in his life and how you can too!
How to Fight Off Zoom Fatigue
Whether it’s trying to combat Zoom fatigue or attempting to deal with the strain and stress that comes from staring at a screen all day, here are three tips to help you de-stress in an age of virtual living.
Take the Stress Out of DECA Scholarship Applications
Each year, DECA awards over $200,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college members. Here are five tips to help take the stress out of applying for DECA scholarships.
5 Tips to Take Your Productivity to the #NextLevel
Schoolwork, volunteering, extracurricular activities, DECA... can you really do it all without endless all-nighters? We think so! Check out five of our favorite ways to level-up your schedules, to-do lists and priorities for peak productivity.
Managing Stress as a Small Business Owner
After six years as a small business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve adapted a few habits and philosophies that have helped me along the way. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Good Stress, Bad Stress: Find Your Sweet Spot
We all experience stress on a daily basis, but the amount we experience depends on how well we cope with the various stressors in our lives. Here are a few tips to help you identify good versus bad stress and find the perfect balance.
