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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.

5 Tips for Your Freshman Year
Entering high school can be a nerve-wracking experience, but remember you're not alone! To help calm your nerves and ensure you start off on the right foot, follow these five tips for your freshman year.

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.

The Connection between Cybersecurity and Leaders of Tomorrow
While we focus on the soft skills to become emerging leaders, we forget that those skills relate to cybersecurity in various ways. Hear from a student leader who has shown the benefits of having leadership and cybersecurity experience together.

5 Ways DECA Helps You Build Resilience
Resilience is built through experiences, and DECA provides countless opportunities to strengthen this essential skill. By developing adaptability, confidence and perseverance, members gain a competitive edge that will serve them well in their future endeavors.

Compete to Win $2,000 in the Collegiate DECA Sales Challenge
Showcase your world-class selling abilities in the Collegiate DECA Sales Challenge. Sponsored by Enterprise Rentals, the challenge is open to all members attending the 2025 Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference.

Case Study of the Week: Methods to Market Safety
Step into the role of the regional manager for Rental Car Academy. The regional vice president wants you to determine how to best market an optional yet important new service only for customers in the region.

Finance Cluster Exam Tips
Are you competing in a finance event? If so, you will need to take the Finance Cluster Exam. Some tips for doing well include avoiding getting stuck on questions, using background knowledge, using the process of elimination, studying key terms, and taking practice tests.

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Ace Your Case Study
Are you looking for ways to improve your case study before Collegiate DECA ICDC? Check out this step-by-step guide to learn how to ace your case study!

Advocacy Day with Washington DECA
Recently, Washington DECA visited state representatives and senators alongside seven other CTSOs. We met with legislators to explain the personal impact of DECA and CTE on their lives and discuss issues about our specific geographical areas.

Case Study of the Week: Forming Strategic Relationships
Step into the role of the owner of Pet Slumber Party, a kennel that boards dogs and cats. Your business partner feels the business would benefit from supporting a local non-profit and wants your ideas on how to establish a relationship with a neighbor.

Establishing Local Partnerships with Men’s Wearhouse
Establishing local partnerships provides DECA members with valuable learning experiences, access to resources and opportunities for community engagement. In this article, Judy Busocker from Men's Wearhouse discusses her partnership experience with DECA.

Writing Does Wonders: How to Write an Effective CTE Advocacy Letter
Advocating for CTE benefits future students and helps ensure that programs like DECA can continue to shape tomorrow’s industry leaders. Check out this step-by-step guide and sample template to help you create a persuasive CTE advocacy letter.

Spread the Love with DECA Valentines
To let your #DECAbestie or #DECAcrush know how much they mean to you, DECA has created valentines for you to share with your friends on February 14.

How DECA Shaped My Success as a Chemical Engineering Student
DECA gave me the skills to stand out in engineering. The ability to present ideas, collaborate effectively and think strategically has set me apart in a competitive field, proving that business and engineering go hand in hand.