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Case Study of the Week

Case Study of the Week: Marketing Safe Winter Driving

Feb 2, 2026

Step into the role of the regional manager for Rental Car Academy, a rental car agency that caters to budget-conscious travelers. The regional vice president wants you to determine how to best market an optional yet important new service only for customers in the region.

Career Insights

Why Join the U.S. Air Force? Building Skills, Experience and Long-Term Opportunity

Feb 1, 2026

Choosing how to begin your career is about finding an environment where you can develop skills, gain experience and grow professionally over time. The U.S. Air Force offers a hands-on pathway that combines training, education and responsibility.

Career Insights

Love Sells: What Valentine’s Day Teaches Us About Consumer Behavior

Feb 1, 2026

While Valentine’s Day is often viewed as a celebration of relationships, from a business perspective, it represents something else entirely: a powerful case study in consumer behavior.

Chapter Strategy

Small Steps, Big Impact: Go the Extra During CTE Month

Feb 1, 2026

This month is your moment to step not only into the professional realm, but also the legislative realm. Here’s a look at how you can meet with your elected officials during CTE Month and beyond.

Career Insights

Super Bowl Advertising: Is It Worth It?

Feb 1, 2026

For DECA members, Super Bowl advertising demonstrates an important lesson: success is driven by preparation and strategy, not budget alone. Even on the biggest stage, impact depends on execution.

Compete

Mastering the Mindset for Competition

Feb 1, 2026

From your very first role-play to stepping into a final round at ICDC, that mix of excitement and anxiety is almost unavoidable. Being nervous can sharpen your focus, fuel your energy and push you to perform at your best.

Chapter Strategy

How Every Student Can Advocate for CTE

Feb 1, 2026

Advocacy does not require a title, a podium or even a formal meeting. It starts with everyday actions and intentional choices that elevate the value of CTE in schools, communities, DECA and beyond.

College Success

From Career Clusters to Campuses: Navigating College Success with DECA

Jan 30, 2026

Ask almost any senior what they’re most nervous about when it comes to college, and you’ll probably hear the same answer: choosing a major. With so many options, it’s easy to make a decision. That’s where DECA makes a real difference.

Career Insights

Preparing for the Business World of 2026: A DECA Member's Guide

Jan 30, 2026

DECA members are preparing for careers in a world where yesterday's strategies cannot necessarily guarantee tomorrow's success. Here are three essential skills every member should implement to thrive in 2026 and beyond.

Chapter Strategy

February is CTE Month: Tips for Getting Involved

Jan 30, 2026

Advocacy is something every DECA member can take part in. Check out these advocacy tips shared by DECA members who have seen firsthand how speaking up can create opportunities and protect funding.

DECA News

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Nestlé Professional Solutions Beverage Marketing Challenge Winners

Jan 29, 2026

DECA and Nestlé are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s NPS Beverage Marketing Challenge.

Leadership

5 Things I Learned as an Association Officer Outside the Classroom

Jan 27, 2026

Beyond the metrics and milestones, my greatest takeaways have been the lessons I learned along the way. Here are the five things that I definitely learned in DECA outside of the classroom.‍

College Success

10 Tips for Back to School

Sep 22, 2020

As the new school year begins, we must all learn to adapt to a new world. We'll encounter many online classes, virtual events and new guidelines for campus... To help you navigate it all, here is a list of ten tips for starting this school year strong.

Chapter Strategy

Quick Guide to Virtual Chapter Meetings

Sep 22, 2020

Virtual meeting platforms have become a prominent form of communication between family, friends and businesses and many of these tools are here to stay. Being prepared to host or participate in a virtual meeting will allow you to stand out and make a great impression.

Chapter Strategy

3 Fundraising Ideas for Fall

Sep 22, 2020

It seems that in every facet of DECA, fundraising is a necessity. During these unique times, it's important to innovate to ensure your chapter can participate in events and remain secure for the future. Here are three virtual fundraisers to try this fall.

Chapter Strategy

5 Ways Collegiate DECA Will Take You to the Next Level

Sep 22, 2020

It's official, the school year is underway. While things will look different, there are still many ways to take yourself and your Collegiate DECA chapter to the next level!

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.