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Announcing the 2025-2026 Virtual Business Challenge Round 2 ICDC Qualifiers
DECA congratulates finalist teams in the second 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.
Love and Football: Marketing in February
Two of the biggest moments happen in February and brands that understand how to capitalize on them can generate massive revenue while building lasting customer relationships. Here's what DECA students can learn from February's marketing playbook.
Apply Now for the 2026 DECA Hotel Challenge Curriculum Grants
Through the VBC—DECA Hotel Challenge, more than $6,000 in curriculum grants will be awarded at the start of the 2026-27 school year to DECA chapters. Read on to learn how to apply.
Sending DECA Love this Valentine's Day
Let your DECA bestie, competition partner and fellow chapter members know how much they mean to you with this year's DECA Valentines!
Advisor Best Practice Spotlight of the Week: Tammy Cox
DECA advisor Tammy Cox has implemented a student-led project management structure for chapter events and initiatives, which has positively impacted her members and the chapter culture.
Study Smarter, Not Harder: Your Guide to Role-play Success
The most successful competitors don’t study harder; they study smarter. Here’s how to prepare efficiently, build real-world knowledge, and stand out in your next role-play.
American Marketing Association (AMA) Associate in Marketing Management Certificate Now Available
The AMA Associate in Marketing Management Certificate validates the marketing skills DECA students possess, signaling to colleges and employers that they’re prepared for what’s next. Learn how to gain access.
Case Study of the Week: Spot The Weaknesses
Step into the role of an accounting auditor hired by Operation Care, a local nonprofit organization. The chair of the board of trustees wants to increase accounting controls and has asked you to review current controls, report weaknesses and make recommendations.
The "Dupe" Economy: Strategy or Sabotage?
The "dupe" economy is a tricky two-sided idea. While it makes trends accessible to everyone, it also challenges the brands that invest time and money in innovation. In this article, explore the pros and cons of the "dupe" economy.
CTE & CTSOs 101: The Basics (But Better)
CTE gives you a massive head start and crucial exposure with real-world skills, industry-level gear and the kind of experiences that make a resume stand out. Let’s dive into why these acronyms are so crucial!
Beyond Repetition: Mastering Preparation for DECA Competitions
Preparation is the most important factor for success in competition! While many competitors repeat practice tests and role-plays in hopes of earning high scores, true preparation goes beyond practicing over and over again.
Words of Wisdom: Pieces of Advice From DECA Advisors
Chapters across the nation are preparing for one of the most exciting times of the year. To better understand these key elements, we asked DECA advisors in Florida DECA District 8 for advice they would give to members.
Video Call Tips and Tricks
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.
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.
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.
Mountain View High School Virtual Recruitment
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.
