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Career Insights

From Podium to “For You” Page: How TikTok Edits are Reshaping Olympic Athlete Branding

Mar 2, 2026

TikTok edits have redefined Olympic branding by turning athletes into ongoing digital narratives rather than once-every-four-years competitors. While medals still carry prestige, narrative, personality and aesthetic, cohesion can amplify competitive results

Leadership

5 Tips to Help You Stay Productive

Mar 2, 2026

Balancing schoolwork, DECA and other extracurriculars is challenging. There are so many distractions around you that prevent you from focusing on your work. Here are 5 tips that will help you stay on track!

Spotlights

Going for Gold: The Mindset Behind the Medal

Mar 2, 2026

Alysa Liu's Olympic Gold win redefined what it means to compete under pressure. Her comeback shows how success is best found by following one’s own passions on one’s own terms. Let's look at how DECA competitors can learn from Alysa Liu!

Chapter Strategy

Advisor Best Practice Spotlight of the Week: Elizabeth Martin

Mar 2, 2026

At Reedy DECA, advisor Elizabeth Martin is bringing the business world directly into her classroom by intentionally incorporating DECA’s Corporate Challenges into both her instruction and chapter culture

Case Study of the Week

Case Study of the Week: Transitioning Due To Ethics

Mar 2, 2026

Step into the role of a small business owner that runs Pets for You, a pet shop that sells dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, snakes and fish. You began Pets for You 20 years ago. As a lifelong pet lover, you wanted to start a business that would help connect people and pets with forever homes.

Career Insights

Exploring Air Force Careers: From Enlisted Paths to Becoming an Officer

Mar 1, 2026

The U.S. Air Force offers flexible career pathways. Students can gain real-world experience, earn college degrees while serving and grow into leadership positions, building a career that evolves with their goals over time.

Chapter Strategy

From Your Association’s CDC to ICDC: Making the Most of the In-Between

Mar 1, 2026

The eternal question sits in the mind of every DECA member: What should you do between your association conference and ICDC? The truth is, this in-between period holds more to do than you might think!

Compete

Go for Glass: Competition Tips from an ICDC Glass Winner

Mar 1, 2026

With ICDC just over a month away, preparation is key to your success. Preparing for competition improves your confidence and your professionalism. Discover several key preparation techniques in this article.

Spotlights

Leading the Future: Celebrating Women in DECA for Women’s History Month

Mar 1, 2026

Within DECA, celebrating women feels especially meaningful. Walk into any chapter meeting or conference, and you will see young women stepping forward as competitors, innovators, mentors and leaders.

Conferences

Beyond Competition: The DECA ICDC Impact

Mar 1, 2026

When members think of ICDC, competition is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But DECA ICDC is an experience that shapes leaders long after the competition ends.

Chapter Strategy

Turning Ambition into Action: Smart Ways to Fundraise for ICDC

Mar 1, 2026

From conference registration to flights and hotel stays, attending ICDC requires strategic financial planning. The good news? With creativity, organization and teamwork, fundraising can be just as empowering as competing.

DECA News

Congratulations to the 2025-26 CEWD Power Perks Challenge Winners

Feb 26, 2026

CEWD and DECA are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025-26 Power Perks Challenge!

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.

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.