Power Women 2021: Tippi McCullough
Arkansas State Representative, District 33, Little Rock
House Minority Leader
What’s your secret to success?
Having had a supportive family and friends. Recognizing the value and uniqueness of all people. Teamwork. Listening to all voices and seeing both sides of issues.
What attracted you to your career?
Which career? Public service and politics are my second career after teaching and coaching for 33 years. I was drawn to teaching because of a love for English, basketball, and learning. After facing adversity and teaching for five more years I started a second career, in a sense, continuing public service as a way to speak for others and to put ideas and vision into action.
How did you get started in your field?
I was fired for marrying my longtime partner in 2013 and this motivated me to become more involved in my different communities (neighborhood, union, church, political party, etc.) and to run for office.
What do you love best about what you do?
It is really pretty basic. I love building relationships with people and helping to meet the needs of my community and of Arkansans.
What advice would you give to a young woman
starting her career?
You will face folks that underestimate you. Prove them wrong. Life will not always be fair but develop a positive attitude that will always see you through tough times. Work to prepare and have confidence. Be dependable and consistent. Always strive to continue to learn and be better.
How did your education prepare you for your career?
It opened my mind to different viewpoints and to a love of learning. Being an athlete in high school and college taught me to be disciplined, to always be prepared, take advantage of opportunities, work hard, be poised under pressure, work as a team, and have a strategy for a common goal.
Which of your accomplishments are you most proud?
I am proud of all the years I taught English and coached basketball and worked with great educators, administrators, staff, and students. I’m also proud that the constituents in District 33 have trusted me to represent them with their vote.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
By loving to read, watch movies and sports, along with traveling and mountain and road biking.
What obstacles have you had to overcome?
We all have to overcome obstacles of some sort. Growing up gay affected how I navigated life. Getting fired for getting legally married and losing health insurance, retirement, salary, friends and basically my identity was tough.
Do you have a favorite quote
I have lots of favorite quotes. This is one because of my love of books and reading: “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” — James Baldwin