Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Murphy
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in a military family, I moved around constantly, making adaptability and finding community key aspects of my life. Despite the frequent relocations, my family lived in Tampa multiple times throughout my childhood. When it came time for college, I chose to stay local, earning my undergraduate degree in marketing from USF, followed by my MBA in international business and supply chain management.
I’ve experienced Tampa at various stages of its growth, and over the past decade, the city has evolved tremendously. Of course, I might be a little biased, but I truly believe it’s the best place to live!
The Tampa Guide is a passion project I started as a senior in college. I’ve always loved taking photos—especially of food—so I thought, why not turn that into something others can enjoy? That’s how my Tampa food page was born—a way to share my favorite spots while helping others discover great places to eat and explore.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, owning any kind of business—big or small—comes with its challenges. When I first started the page, I sold iced coffee glasses as part of the venture, which some people may remember. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, so managing the posts, stories, and business side of things was an incredibly rewarding experience.
Throughout this journey, I’ve balanced running The Tampa Guide with working full-time in my professional career. As I progressed, finding the right balance between my job and my passion project became increasingly challenging. After handling everything from sourcing and manufacturing to selling, shipping, and logistics, I realized that maintaining momentum wasn’t sustainable in the long run. The glass cup venture was extremely popular, and I’m so glad I pursued it—I even hope to bring it back (or introduce something similar) in the future!
For now, I post when I can, but I will say that growing on Instagram has become much more difficult lately – which I think a lot of creators could agree with.
As you know, we’re big fans of thetampaguide . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Tampa Guide stands out from the many other Tampa food pages with its colorful, vibrant feed and a focus on delivering content in a way my audience finds most useful and engaging. My goal is to make it a valuable resource—whether someone is searching for their new favorite coffee shop or the perfect date night spot.
Supporting local businesses has always been a priority, and I hope that comes through in my content. The Tampa Guide—and the incredible community behind it—has given me so many unique opportunities, for which I’m incredibly grateful. But at its core, this passion project is all about having fun while creating a helpful guide to Tampa and everything this amazing city has to offer!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is the two years I spent living in Germany. As I mentioned before, growing up in a military family shaped me in so many ways. Looking back, I think a big reason I take so many photos now is because, at the time, I hardly took any while living in Europe—a regret that still sticks with me. I have almost no documentation of that chapter of my life, which made me realize just how much I value experiences and the ability to look back on them.
Now, I probably take too many photos, but I love that I can always revisit the meals I’ve eaten and the moments I’ve experienced. My upbringing was definitely unique, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetampaguide/
Image Credits
N/A (myself)
