Content Creator @SexyIshaan Returns to the Bay to Speak at MSJ

By Staff Writers Scarlett Huang & Rishab Shah

Internet sensation Ishaan Sharma, or @SexyIshaan, was invited by MSJ LEO to speak at MSJ on April 8. Over the past few years, Sharma has become a significant online figure, amassing a combination of more than 650,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch. However, beyond his online content, Sharma is a James Logan High School and UC Berkeley graduate, currently working as an AI product manager. He also played basketball in high school and college. MSJ LEO invited Sharma as a guest speaker to share his experiences and insights as someone who grew up in the Bay Area and chose to pursue content creation, an unconventional path. “We thought it’d be fun and refreshing to have someone who could bring positivity to MSJ and also provide helpful and relatable advice to the student community,” MSJ LEO President Helen Hu said.  

Sharma’s main platform is TikTok, where he posts comedic sketches and commentaries that blend humor and relatability of student life and dating. Due to Sharma’s niche references to MSJ and Fremont within his content, he was already a well-known creator in the MSJ student community, allowing the event to attract an impressive audience of more than 150 students. Sharma confessed that he hadn’t expected such a huge turnout and, in a TikTok posted after the event, was pleasantly surprised by the MSJ engagement.

MSJ LEO started the event by asking about Sharma’s personal experiences and seeking his advice for Bay Area high schoolers. “One of the most important parts of high school is making friends and being genuine … you can build lifelong connections,” Sharma said. He then entertained the audience with responses that covered topics ranging from college decisions to his personal opinions on the NBA, which made the event fun. Sharma spoke on common questions, such as his parents’ views on his TikTok career, how to choose a college, and balancing extracurriculars. He emphasized that it is crucial to balance parental expectations with personal passion. “Stop caring what your parents think … don’t go to school for the name or due to peer pressure … always think about your passion and what you want to do,” Sharma said. 

Sharma spoke about his college experience and achievements, especially within UC Berkeley. Sharma advised students to use the freedom of college to explore their passions and interests. Sharma tried different classes and shifted from computer engineering to a dual major of data science and economics, graduating with a double major. Since entering college, Sharma has interned for Comcast, NBC, and Deloitte, finding success through persistence. He attributed this success to his willingness to keep working toward his goals even when faced with challenges and setbacks and to try different things. 

Despite being a successful content creator, Sharma still works a full-time job within the technology industry, demonstrating that it’s possible to be passionate about and achieve success in multiple fields, conventional and unconventional. “For everything in life, I put my mind to it, and it worked out. You have to be delusional to be successful … believe that you can achieve something, and work towards that goal,” Sharma said. 

Ultimately, the event was a great success, receiving a high turnout, entertaining, and giving students valuable college, career, and life advice. “This event was a lighthearted and fun break from the usual academic pressure … we will definitely be inviting more guest speakers in the future,” Helen Hu said.