Resources

January 16, 2025

Silicon Valley Career Development Conference 2025

Author: California DECA

The Silicon Valley Career Development Conference (SVCDC) was such an amazing experience! From exciting workshops to great competition, the Silicon Valley chapters came back with so many new skills, fresh ideas, and tons of motivation for states! The conference was full of learning, meeting new people, and understanding what leadership in DECA is really all about. Here’s what we took away from this unforgettable weekend!

Leadership, Creativity, and Everything In Between

One of the best parts of SVCDC was the workshops! We got to attend sessions like “Catapult Your Career with Creativity” and “Thinking Like a High Performer”, where we learned how to solve problems in creative ways and think like leaders. Turns out, being creative is all about looking at challenges from a different angle and finding unique solutions. We also learned how to communicate like pros. Whether it’s delivering a roleplay pitch or leading our chapter, being able to speak clearly and confidently makes a huge difference. The workshops reminded us that anyone can be a great leader as long as they stay open to new ideas, adapt to challenges, and inspire others.

Kicking the Competition!

The competitive events at SVCDC ran like clockwork, thanks to the incredible effort of the coordinators, judges, and volunteers. Everything was so well-organized, from check-ins to feedback sessions, and it made competing feel smooth and stress-free. It was clear that everyone behind the scenes worked hard to make the conference a great experience for all of us.

What stood out most was seeing how newer and growing chapters performed. Many of them brought fresh energy and creativity to their events, proving that you don’t need to be a large chapter to make a big impact. Watching these chapters step up and shine was so amazing. We are so excited to see their growth, and thrilled to work with these new and upcoming chapters.

Making Connections in the DECA Game Room

After all the workshops and competition, we got to hang out in the DECA Game Room, and it was so much fun! It was a great way to meet other members, play games, and share stories about our DECA journeys. We even picked up some new tips from other chapters about how they run their meetings and competitive prep. It was such a great reminder that DECA isn’t just individual chapters, it’s about a bigger community.

Looking Ahead

SVCDC 2025 was way more than just a conference, it was a chance for all of us to grow as leaders and teammates. We learned so much, made some amazing memories, and left with ideas that we can’t wait to bring back to our chapter. Samay Sikri, our new Silicon Valley Vice President, said it best: “I am so honored and privileged to serve as the 2025–2026 Silicon Valley Vice President! Silicon Valley, get ready for a great year ahead of us!” We’re so excited to take what we’ve learned and turn it into action. From building stronger teams to helping every member grow, this year is going to be one for the books, and we will see you at states!

About California DECA
California DECA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Career and Technical Student Organization, endorsed by the California Department of Education. With over 4,500 members in 59 schools throughout California, California DECA works to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in four fields of business: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. For more information about California DECA, visit www.californiadeca.org.

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Contact Information
To learn more about this story, please contact:
California DECA
info@californiadeca.org
1-888-605-DECA