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Congratulations to the 2025-26 NPCF Social Impact Leader of Tomorrow Challenge Winners
DECA Inc. and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) are excited to announce the winners of the 2025-26 Social Impact Leader of Tomorrow Challenge.
Recognize Outstanding Seniors with DECA's Emerging Leader Honor Award
If you know an exceptional DECA leader, consider recognizing them with the DECA Emerging Leader Honor Award. The application window is open until March 31, 2026.
Case Study of the Week: Marketing Safe Winter Driving
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.
Why Join the U.S. Air Force? Building Skills, Experience and Long-Term Opportunity
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.
Love Sells: What Valentine’s Day Teaches Us About Consumer Behavior
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.
Small Steps, Big Impact: Go the Extra During CTE Month
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.
Super Bowl Advertising: Is It Worth It?
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.
Mastering the Mindset for Competition
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.
How Every Student Can Advocate for CTE
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.
From Career Clusters to Campuses: Navigating College Success with DECA
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.
Preparing for the Business World of 2026: A DECA Member's Guide
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.
February is CTE Month: Tips for Getting Involved
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.
3 Fundraising Ideas for Fall
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.
5 Ways Collegiate DECA Will Take You to the Next Level
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!
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.
