Contributed by Ishaan Signh | Downingtown West High School, PA
When you walk into your DECA presentation, it might feel like you're facing a judge with a rubric. But in reality, you’re pitching to someone thinking a lot like a Shark Tank investor.
Judges don’t have all day to analyze your work. They’re making snap judgments, often within the first minute. And psychology explains why.
One major concept is the anchoring effect. This happens when someone heavily relies on the first piece of information they get. If your introduction is confident, clear and well-organized, the judge is more likely to view the rest of your project positively.
Another key principle is the authority bias. You signal credibility when you cite respected sources, like McKinsey or Google Trends. Judges don’t know everything about your topic, so these names act like shortcuts. Your research becomes more credible when it comes from the pros.
Think of your DECA pitch like an elevator pitch on Shark Tank. Investors don’t want to hear fluff. They want clarity, confidence and strategy. Judges are the same. They’re looking for the students who not only understand their ideas but also know how to communicate them persuasively.
So, how do you apply this?
Start your presentation strong. Within the first 30 seconds, clarify who you are, what your project is and why it matters. Use visuals that make information easy to process. Speak like you’re the CEO, not just a student who wrote a paper. And remember: even the best ideas fail if they’re not sold correctly. Your job isn’t just to explain. Your job is to convince.
DECA isn’t only about business. It’s about learning how to present yourself like a leader. And the more you understand how judges think, the better chance you have of becoming one of the names they remember when handing out medals.
