From July 11 to 13, your California DECA State officers attended the Emerging Leaders Summit in Tysons, Virginia where they networked with fellow association officers, learned key leadership lessons, and built the skills to better serve our state. Here are some of our highlights and favorite memories from this trip:

Robert Flores – President “One of my favorite memories from ELS was the ultimate rock paper scissors activity that incorporated dancing. By having us do funny dance moves, this was a really fun and exciting energizer that showed that no one was too intimidating to go up to and strike up a conversation with.”

Katie Ong – VP of Leadership “My favorite memory from ELS was meeting fellow association officers. It was such an amazing experience getting to connect with other like-minded students across the country while learning and networking with them. I especially loved eating dinner with the Oregon DECA officers and building connections that really last beyond ELS!”

Ruby Han – VP of Marketing “My favorite part of ELS was meeting association officers from across the country. From taking pictures and featuring them in our music video to dancing at the street party, laughing about our iconic Alpha Officer, and simply spending time together, I created unforgettable memories that I will always cherish.”

Ishan Sharma – VP of NorCal “My favorite part of ELS was the DECA Inc. block party. I enjoyed meeting so many other state officers, playing games together, and making new friends. I also learned a lot about the different fundraising ideas and events that other state associations use, which gave me new ideas to bring back to California.”

Rishav Mehta – VP of Silicon Valley “My favorite ELS memory was the DECA Inc block party. I had so much fun networking with all the different state officers and making new friends. I was able to learn a lot about how different associations run and the unique dynamics of each different state team.”

Kyra Zhang – VP of SoCal “My biggest takeaway from ELS was learning how meaningful storytelling can empower advocacy for DECA and Career and Technical Education (CTE). My favorite memory was demonstrating Team 76’s ‘Broken Signal’ activity, where my poor attempt at cup stacking while blindfolded highlighted the lesson of the importance of communication channels.”

Whether it was learning insights from speakers such as former High School Division DECA President Matthew Meuleners or running California DECA’s own workshop, Team 76 had an unforgettable experience at ELS! We are excited to use the lessons we’ve learned in Virginia to further empower California DECA, and we look forward to the Ultimate Power Trip in November.

Post by: Katie Ong | VP of Leadership

For many students, summer is a chance to slow down after a busy school year. It’s a time to catch up on sleep, spend time with friends and family, travel, and enjoy a well-earned break. While taking time to recharge is important, summer is also a great opportunity to explore experiences that can help you grow both personally and professionally. 

One of the most rewarding ways to gain real-world experience is through an internship. They provide students with the opportunity to learn directly from professionals, contribute to meaningful projects, and explore careers that interest them. One student embracing this opportunity is Hannah Kow, SoCal DECA’s Vice President of Marketing, who is spending her summer participating in a mergers and acquisitions internship with a focus on accounting and marketing. As an Accounting Applications competitor, Hannah is gaining hands-on experience in an industry that aligns with her interests while continuing to build on the business skills she has developed through DECA. 

If you haven’t found an internship yet, there’s no need to worry – there’s still plenty of time to start looking. If your goal is to relax and recharge this summer, that’s perfectly okay too. Summer is also a great time to begin exploring opportunities for the upcoming school year, allowing you to prepare without feeling rushed. 

Opportunities often exist closer to home than you might think. Local businesses, startups, nonprofit organizations, and family-owned companies can all provide valuable hands-on experience. Start by identifying industries or career paths that interest you, then research organizations in your community that align with those interests. Even if a business isn’t actively advertising internships, introducing yourself in person, sending a thoughtful email, making a phone call, or dropping off a résumé can demonstrate initiative and leave a lasting impression. You can also connect with teachers, advisors, family members, and mentors, as they may know of opportunities that aren’t publicly posted. Remember, every application and conversation is a chance to grow your confidence and professional network – even if it doesn’t lead to an internship right away. 

DECA’s mission is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. One of the best ways to bring that mission to life is by taking initiative, stepping outside your comfort zone, and embracing new opportunities. As you enjoy your summer, we encourage you to take that first step toward something that excites you. You never know where one email, application, or conversation might lead as it could become one of the most meaningful experiences of your future.

Post by: Akshara Veera | Southern California District Action Team VP of Leadership

A new school year means new opportunities, and DECA’s 2026–2027 Guide is packed with exciting updates designed to help members develop real-world business skills, strengthen their leadership abilities, and prepare for success beyond high school. Centered around this year’s theme, “The NEXT BIG THING,” DECA encourages members to think beyond today’s possibilities and become the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will shape tomorrow.

The NEXT BIG THING

This year’s theme challenges members to look toward the future. Whether it’s growing a chapter to record membership, creating an award-winning competitive event project, launching a new school initiative, or developing an entrepreneurial idea, DECA wants members to focus on creating meaningful impact rather than simply participating.

Important Program Updates

Several significant changes have been introduced for the 2026–2027 competitive season.

Prepared event presentations and written entries will now each account for 50% of the overall score, creating a more balanced evaluation. Career Competencies have replaced the previous 21st Century Skills framework, aligning DECA more closely with national career readiness standards. Team Decision Making events have been streamlined to include only five performance indicators, while new standardized presentation criteria and updated evaluation rubrics provide judges with clearer scoring expectations. Additionally, Adobe Express is now required in portions of several Chapter Campaign submissions, encouraging members to build stronger digital communication skills.

Corporate Challenges: One of DECA’s Most Exciting Opportunities

One of the highlights of this year’s guide is the expanded lineup of DECA Challenges. These challenges are created alongside major corporate and nonprofit partners, allowing members to solve authentic business problems while building their portfolios and competing for recognition at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).

Unlike traditional competitive events, many challenges focus on creativity, digital media, marketing strategy, and innovation. They allow students to work on projects over several weeks or months, creating solutions that mirror the work completed by professionals in today’s business world.

Some of this year’s featured challenges include:

• Social Influence in the Real-World Challenge – Explore how persuasion and marketing influence consumer behavior through a creative advertising campaign.
• DECA at the Bell Challenge – Produce an original business-focused video episode centered around this year’s topic: Positioning.
• Hospitality Sustainability Innovation Challenge – Design a sustainability initiative that encourages hotel guests to participate in environmentally friendly practices.
• Social Impact Leader Challenge – Partner with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to develop an original fundraising and cause-marketing campaign that inspires action while showcasing business strategy.
• Procurement for the Public Good Challenge – Research and recommend purchasing solutions that improve efficiency and value for schools or community organizations.
• Future of Accounting Challenge – Create a marketing strategy that helps attract more students to accounting careers while promoting student engagement with the accounting profession.
• Insurance Pathways Innovation in Action Challenge – Develop a business plan for a next-generation insurance agency that appeals to Gen Z talent.
• Food Truck Challenge – Build an original food truck concept complete with branding, target market analysis, and marketing strategy.
• Personal Branding Challenge – Design your own professional brand, including a logo, résumé, and vision statement using Adobe Express.
• Digital Presentation Skills Challenge and Social Media Marketing Simternship™ – Develop practical presentation and digital marketing skills through simulations and interactive business scenarios.

These challenges provide students with valuable experience beyond traditional competition. Participants practice video production, branding, digital marketing, research, budgeting, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving while building projects that can strengthen college applications, resumes, and professional portfolios. Because many challenges involve nationally recognized companies and organizations, members also gain exposure to current industry trends and expectations.

For members looking to expand their DECA experience beyond role-plays and written events, these challenges offer an excellent opportunity to showcase creativity while solving authentic business problems.

Looking Ahead

From updated competitive events to expanded leadership opportunities and innovative corporate challenges, the 2026–2027 DECA Guide reinforces DECA’s mission of preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Whether members are competing, leading their chapter, participating in school-based enterprises, or tackling real-world business challenges, this year’s programs are designed to help students discover their “Next Big Thing” while developing skills that will benefit them long after graduation.

Check out the official guide here!:

Post by: Kate Park | Northern California District Action Team VP of Leadership