Senior Anvi Mehta’s involvement in DECA has been a major part of her time at Lambert. What began as a small interaction with the DECA booth her freshman year at club rush became one of her most memorable experiences, enabling her growth as a communicator, problem solver and leader. Over the years, Anvi has grown from a passionate member to the Vice President of Marketing for the state of Georgia.
DECA is a Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) organization focused on marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Students compete in roleplays, case studies and written events that mirror real business scenarios. It’s known for pushing students to think on their feet and communicate clearly.
“I was set on marketing being something that I wanted to do,” Mehta said. “I researched career opportunities and knew that I wanted to talk to people but also express my creativity.”
As she became more involved, Anvi wanted to take on responsibilities that would challenge her and help the chapter succeed, which naturally led her to pursue her first leadership roles.
“I started out as a member my freshman year, and then became social media officer sophomore year,” Mehta explained. “Then in junior year I got to serve as co-president, which was very cool.”
After experiencing leadership within the chapter, Anvi wanted to understand how DECA functioned beyond Lambert. She was especially curious about how statewide operations worked and how she could play a part in shaping them. This fueled her drive to run for a state officer position.
“One of the biggest takeaways from my experience in DECA would definitely be how it enabled me to be a risk taker,” Mehta highlighted. “I initially ran for state officer my junior year and didn’t get the position. I was hesitant about trying again this year and ended up being pleasantly surprised.”
This year, she serves as the Vice President of Marketing for Georgia DECA, a role that connects her with over 21,000 members across the state. The position requires her to communicate with other state officers, communicate with schools and plan events on a much larger scale.
“Taking on such a huge responsibility was daunting initially,” Mehta said. “But eventually things fell into the rhythm. It’s just like managing the Lambert chapter at a larger scale. I get to reach out to many schools and even state officers across the United States.”
One of the most memorable aspects of her role has been the people she has met along the way. Collaborating with officers from different states and organizations has expanded her view on student leadership.
“I’ve met so many more people as a state officer,” Mehta stated. “I’ve met state officers from many different states like California and Virginia… I get to meet so many incredible people who serve as state officers for other organizations like FBLA, TSA and FCCLA. It’s just a greater community and I’ve gotten to network with almost everyone.”
Through these experiences, Anvi’s approach to leadership has evolved. She has learned that strong leaders support rather than dictate, and that growth comes from helping others succeed.
“My experience with DECA has taught me what it really means to be a leader,” Mehta shared. “Leadership is not about telling people what to do, it’s about helping people fulfill what they want to do.”
Anvi hopes to continue her impact beyond high school, taking her communication and leadership skills along with her. With the invaluable lessons she learned from DECA, she is sure to make a meaningful contribution to the business world.
