Richard McCulloch didn’t begin his journey in a corner office or with an impressive title. His path started in a far more humble yet transformative place: an unpaid college internship. It’s a story that may sound familiar to many aspiring professionals, but what makes Richard McCulloch’s journey stand out is not just where he started, but what he carried forward from those formative moments into a career of purpose, insight, and real impact.
Richard McCulloch was a sophomore at the School of Communications at Howard University in the mid-1980s when he took a chance on an internship at DJ 100 (WDJY), an urban radio station in northeast Washington, D.C. This wasn’t just a résumé filler or a summer distraction. It became a defining chapter of his professional life. At a time when there was no internet, no LinkedIn, and no algorithm to amplify a budding career, Richard McCulloch relied on old-fashioned connection, initiative, and curiosity.
That internship was more than a foot in the door; it was a front-row seat to the business behind the music. Richard McCulloch didn’t just observe the radio world he became a part of it. Writing ad copy for account executives in exchange for lunch may sound modest, but it was in those small, meaningful exchanges that he first grasped the essence of communication strategy. He didn’t yet call it “messaging,” but it was there that the seeds of marketing were sown authentic, audience-driven, and results-oriented.
In those early days, Richard McCulloch was learning how to write with impact, how performance affected profitability, and how real business worked beyond the textbook. Watching the correlation between Arbitron ratings and revenue helped him understand something that would later become a core professional philosophy: creativity must be tethered to outcomes. Strategy and storytelling are not mutually exclusive they are partners in impact.
Now Partner and Chief Experience Officer at Pink Studio Central, Richard McCulloch brings decades of insight and energy into shaping how organizations connect with their audiences. But he hasn’t forgotten where it all began. That unpaid internship often overlooked or undervalued in a world obsessed with quick wins and titles became a cornerstone of his professional DNA. And he’s quick to remind the next generation that real learning happens in motion, not just in lectures.
Richard McCulloch often speaks to young professionals, not to impress them with his achievements, but to remind them that experience doesn’t always come with a paycheck. Volunteering, internships, even side projects these are not optional detours but essential routes to understanding the reality of a chosen career. It’s a philosophy that echoes Einstein’s famous words: “Learning is an experience. Everything else is just information.” For Richard McCulloch, learning has always been an active pursuit, grounded in real-world application.
What’s striking about Richard McCulloch’s reflection is its authenticity. There’s no glamour or ego in his recounting just honest recognition that growth often begins in the background. The cardigan days and the full head of hair may be gone, but the lessons from that radio station remain etched in every campaign he leads and every strategy he crafts.
As Chief Experience Officer, Richard McCulloch now helps brands shape their narratives and enhance user experiences not just through creativity, but through empathy and relevance. He understands that consumers don’t just buy products; they buy into meaning, stories, and connection. And this understanding, rooted in his early exposure to real-world dynamics, allows him to guide clients with uncommon clarity.
In the evolving landscape of marketing, where digital tools and platforms change by the minute, Richard McCulloch’s approach remains timeless: Listen more. Learn by doing. Stay curious. Build connections. Trust the process.
The professional world today is more competitive and fast-paced than ever. But Richard McCulloch’s story offers a grounding reminder that careers are not built in a day they’re built in the quiet moments when no one is watching, when you’re writing copy for lunch, or staying late to understand something more deeply. And it’s in these moments that resilience, insight, and leadership begin to take shape.
Richard McCulloch’s journey doesn’t just inspire it instructs. It shows that no experience is too small to matter, and no starting point is insignificant if approached with intention. Whether he’s mentoring a student, strategizing a campaign, or simply reflecting on his beginnings, Richard McCulloch stays rooted in a truth we all need to remember: success is not a destination, it’s a continuous evolution one that begins when you decide to show up, even without a paycheck.
So, for every young professional scrolling through LinkedIn, wondering where to begin or whether the effort is worth it, Richard McCulloch’s story offers a clear and powerful message: Start now. Start small. But most importantly, start.
