Meet Shannon Briggs | Founder, Head Trailblazer: Campfire Collective

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Briggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I’ll be honest — before I had my daughter, I didn’t really have work/life balance. I was in that “always on” mode, where client needs, events, and deadlines dictated my hours. I love my work, so I didn’t always notice how much it spilled into every corner of my life.

When Lucy came along, her schedule gave me structure in a way I’d never had before. Suddenly, there were clear bookends to my day — drop-off in the morning, pick-up in the afternoon — and I had to be intentional about how I used those hours. It actually made me more focused and productive, because there wasn’t room to just let work expand endlessly.

Now, I think about balance less as a perfect 50/50 and more as making sure I’m fully present wherever I am — whether that’s in a strategy meeting or reading bedtime stories. I’ve learned that protecting my time outside of work doesn’t just make me a better parent; it also makes me a better leader, creative, and collaborator.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve made it my mission to put Memphis on the map in the best ways possible. Through Campfire Collective, I get to tell the stories of this city in a way that feels true to who we are — soulful, creative, resilient — while also reaching audiences far beyond our borders.

What sets us apart is that we’re not just creating marketing campaigns; we’re translating the heart of Memphis into something people everywhere can connect with. Whether it’s a neighborhood restaurant getting a feature in The New York Times or a local nonprofit gaining national recognition for their work, we make sure the story resonates both here at home and across the country.

One of the things I’m most proud of is hearing from locals that our work feels authentic — that they see themselves, their neighborhoods, and their culture reflected in it. Balancing that authenticity with national appeal is a delicate art, and it’s something we’ve learned to master through deep listening, strong relationships, and a lot of creative problem-solving.

It hasn’t always been easy. Building a reputation in a competitive industry meant showing up again and again, delivering on promises, and choosing collaboration over competition. But over time, those values have become our calling card.

What I want the world to know is this: Memphis is full of stories worth telling, and Campfire Collective exists to make sure they’re heard — not just loudly, but beautifully.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve somehow become the unofficial Memphis trip planner for my friends — people will text me out of the blue with, “Okay, I’ve got three days in Memphis… where do I go?!” And honestly, I love it. Planning a Memphis itinerary is like making the perfect playlist — you want the big hits and the deep cuts.

If my best friend had a whole week here, I’d want them to leave feeling like they didn’t just see Memphis — they felt it. Here’s how we’d do it:

Day 1 – The Memphis Welcome
Check in at The Peabody if you want history (and the duck parade), or ARRIVE/Central Station if you want modern-local cool. Early evening drink at the hidden rooftop bar at Old Dominick Distillery. Dinner at JEM Dining — Memphis on a plate — then over to Eight & Sand at Central Station for cocktails and DJs.

Day 2 – Downtown Day
Breakfast at The Arcade — an Elvis favorite. Morning walk through Tom Lee Park along the river, then head up to the top of the Bass Pro Pyramid for that wow-factor view. Afternoon at the National Civil Rights Museum — you’ll carry it with you forever. Early evening drink or snack at Slider Inn Downtown. Dinner at McEwen’s for upscale Southern in a warm, brick-lined space, then live music at Ernestine & Hazel’s for a true Memphis dive bar experience.

Day 3 – Art & Wandering
Coffee at Otherlands Coffee Bar. Stroll the murals and tiny galleries along Broad Avenue, but also make time for the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and a walk through Overton Park. Catch a free concert at the Overton Park Shell if one’s happening. Dinner at Bari for pasta and wine (or Hunter’s latest cocktail creation) that feels like a hug.

Day 4 – In the Heart of the City
Breakfast at The Liquor Store, then hop on a Backbeat Tours bus for a rock ‘n’ soul city tour — it’s like a history lesson and a live concert rolled into one. Spend the afternoon exploring South Main’s shops and galleries. Sunset cocktails on the rooftop of Beck & Call. Dinner at Catherine & Mary’s for Italian-Southern perfection.

Day 5 – Midtown Crawl
Brunch at Beauty Shop (Gwen Stefani sat in that dryer chair, just saying). Spend the afternoon brewery-hopping — start at Memphis Made, then High Cotton, then Ghost River’s patio. Rooftop cocktails at Tiger & Peacock for skyline views. Dinner at Tsunami in Cooper-Young for fresh seafood and a neighborhood vibe. End the night with live music at Bar DKDC — a true hidden gem.

Day 6 – Memphis History & Flavor
Start the day with A Tour of Possibilities for a deep dive into Memphis’ Black history, then explore Victorian Village. Stop at The Four Way for fried green tomatoes and cornbread that tastes like home. Visit the Stax Museum for soul history that will move you. Dinner at The Bar-B-Q Shop for BBQ spaghetti and ribs.

Day 7 – Sweet Goodbye
Breakfast at Brother Juniper’s — order the open-faced omelets and thank me later. Shop Chickasaw Oaks Mall for local, woman-owned treasures. Dinner at Gus’s Fried Chicken for one last indulgence before heading out with sweet tea in hand.

Memphis isn’t a city you check off a list — it’s a city you get to know, one story, one song, one plate at a time. And I’d want my best friend to go home feeling like they’d met the real Memphis, the way locals love it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give a huge shoutout to the Society of Entrepreneurs, especially my monthly Insights group. This peer mentorship circle has been extraordinary. Month after month, they’ve gone above and beyond to help me troubleshoot, problem-solve, and work through the growing pains and challenges of running a business.

Campfire Collective is a better, stronger version of itself because of this group. They’ve pushed me to think bigger, get creative, and make decisions with more confidence.

What amazes me about the Society of Entrepreneurs as a whole is how accessible and generous the members are. These are people with incredible track records, and yet they’re eager to pour into the next generation of business leaders in our city. They’ll take the time to listen, share hard-earned wisdom, make introductions, and genuinely root for you.

That generosity of spirit has shaped the way I think about leadership and community — and it’s something I hope to pay forward every chance I get.

Website: https://buildacampfire.com

Instagram: @buildacampfire

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildacampfire/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildacampfire