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Compete

Your Guide to Becoming a Finalist in DECA

Dec 1, 2025

If you’re aiming for a finalist-quality performance in DECA competition, it takes more than just “doing the test." Here are high-impact strategies that go beyond the basics, helping you compete with purpose, plan and confidence.

Chapter Strategy

Elevate Your Chapter Meetings to the Next Level

Dec 1, 2025

As student leaders, it’s our responsibility to continually innovate and attract as many members as possible to our meetings. Here are seven creative chapter meetings to be the start to your chapter’s best meetings yet.

Spotlights

Behind Every Chapter is a Leader to Thank: A DECA Advisor Spotlight for Thanksgiving

Nov 27, 2025

This Thanksgiving, Winston Churchill DECA is spotlighting our advisor, Ms Showen, whose dedication and leadership have helped our chapter thrive. Discover more about her journey as an advisor and her reflections on being part of the DECA community!

Case Study of the Week

Case Study of the Week: Choosing Merchandise For a New Demographic

Nov 24, 2025

Step into the role of the merchandising manager for Bright Ties, a women’s apparel retailer. The director of merchandising wants your help in planning merchandise assortment to appeal to a new demographic.

DECA News

DECA Welcomes American Marketing Association (AMA) as Strategic Partner

Nov 20, 2025

This collaboration will combine DECA’s focus on emerging leaders and entrepreneurs with the College Board’s expertise in developing programs that promote career and college readiness.

Career Insights

The Psychology Behind Holiday Shopping

Nov 20, 2025

November the peak shopping month due to a blend of emotional, social and psychological triggers. The strategic moves by retailers nationwide create a heightened emotional state for shoppers, making increased spending not only justified but also rewarding.

Career Insights

The Business of Giving: How Entrepreneurs Are Redefining Holiday Generosity

Nov 17, 2025

Every holiday season, people ask how they can give back, but today’s entrepreneurs are proving that generosity is no longer just a December tradition. Around the world, entrepreneurs are incorporating purpose into their business strategies.

Chapter Strategy

5 Design Tips to Build Your Brand

Nov 17, 2025

DECA MONTH IS HERE! That means posting engaging content every day, whether that’s a trending reel or carousel post. This is your time to showcase your marketing and design skills.

Compete

Find the Right DECA Competitive Event For You

Nov 17, 2025

With over 50 competitive events, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed picking an event. Here are some tips for new members choosing their event for the first time - or seasoned members looking to switch it up!

DECA News

Announcing the 2025-2026 Virtual Business Challenge Round 1 ICDC Qualifiers

Nov 17, 2025

DECA congratulates finalist teams in the first round of the 2025-2026 Virtual Business Challenge (VBC). They have earned the opportunity to compete during the DECA International Career Development Conference this spring.

Case Study of the Week

Case Study of the Week: The Importance of Inventory

Nov 17, 2025

Step into the role of a small business owner. You own Sticker Mania, an online company that sells unique stickers for both business and personal use. A new employee has asked you about the importance of your supplies and purchasing methods.

Career Insights

How to Become an Entrepreneur: 8 Actionable Steps

Nov 17, 2025

Learn how to become an entrepreneur and turn your innovative ideas into thriving businesses without needing substantial funds.

Leadership

Video Call Tips and Tricks

Sep 10, 2020

Practically overnight, video calls have become a new societal norm. This guide will provide you with a few tips and useful tricks to help improve your online learning or telecommuting experience.

Leadership

A Quick Guide to Understanding Servant Leadership

Sep 8, 2020

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.

Leadership

The Ethics of Leadership

Sep 8, 2020

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.

Leadership

DECA Direct Magazine: Next Level Leadership

Sep 8, 2020

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.

Leadership

The Next Level is Inclusion

Sep 8, 2020

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?

Chapter Strategy

Top Tips for Socially-distant Membership Recruitment

Sep 8, 2020

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.

Chapter Strategy

The Power of the Diamond

Sep 8, 2020

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?

Chapter Strategy

Cultivate Your Chapter’s Culture

Sep 8, 2020

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.

Chapter Strategy

Discover Your DECA Leadership Style

Sep 8, 2020

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.

Leadership

Influence with Informal Leadership

Sep 8, 2020

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.

DECA News

DECA Members Raise $7,000 Through the MDA Muscle Corp Program

Sep 1, 2020

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.

Spotlights

Mountain View High School Virtual Recruitment

Sep 1, 2020

Like for many chapters, this year’s DECA kickoff meeting was unique for Mountain View High School in Georgia. Even though the meeting was held through Zoom, the chapter still found a way to make it one of their best meetings yet.