Social media has created a direct medium for people to convey their opinions in the 21st century. Currently, we have observed a lot of nudity, negativity, and hate revolving around the internet. Due to this dark phase in social media, it has been difficult for the creators to produce more informative content and stay relevant here. Today we got the opportunity to talk with Dr. Sandesh Lamsal, a Nepali doctor, content creator, athlete, and philanthropist who has been widely admired globally for his breathtaking, creative and informative posts on various social platforms. Here is a part of our conversation:

 

Dr Lamsal, what inspired you to share your experiences on social media platforms?

Initially, I initiated sharing snippets from my daily life, including my experiences as a student, athlete, and philanthropist, on Facebook in Nepal till 2013. After that, in 2014 I received a scholarship from the government of Russia for further studies. I think it laid the milestone of my content creation journey by providing me a chance to explore the Russian culture, tradition, lifestyle, language, and education system. I joined the Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University which is located in St. Petersburg, Russia in an MD course. After receiving basic medical knowledge at the university, I started creating more significant content related to health, lifestyle, social work, fashion, and sports on various social media platforms. I think the desire in me to connect with people on a deeper level and inspire them through my experiences and insights motivated me to create content.

Your various interests and careers must keep you very busy. How do you effectively manage your time and energy?

Being a doctor, athlete, philanthropist and social media personality are cardinally different professionals as all of them require significant attention and energy. Balancing multiple interests and professions can indeed be challenging for everyone but, prioritization and effective time management are key to excel our performance. That’s why, I allocate specific time slots for each aspect of my life. I ensure that my full attention and energy remain within that particular task whatever I’m currently engaged in but also consider that I have to be available for other tasks. This is sometimes exhausting, so to stay energized and focused throughout the day I maintain a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and sufficient rest.

Your social media posts are known for their creativity and innovation. What inspires your content creation process?

Thank you, for me, content means not only attractive photos and videos on social media platforms. I usually write informative medical articles for national-level media outlets such as Online Khabar, Rato Pati, Naya Yougbodh Daily, and MyRepublica with a motive to share complex medical knowledge with the audience in simplified and understandable language. I draw inspiration from various sources, including my personal experiences, current events, global medical advancements, stories of my patients and the interests of my audience. The content should not only be engaging but also diverse, informative, advocative, and thought-provoking. Whether it’s sharing medical insights, fitness and lifestyle tips, entertainment videos, or stories of community outreach, I intend to make sure how much my content resonates with my followers and adds value to their lives.

A lot of people follow a creator first out of curiosity and then after some time, they unfollow. How do you ensure your posts resonate with your audience and leave a lasting impact?

I see everybody focusing on creating content persistently, but building a genuine connection with my audience is paramount to me. I regularly engage with people who follow me through comments, messages, and live sessions, actively seeking feedback and incorporating their suggestions into my content. Out of thousands of content creators, if people are following me, texting me, or even commenting on my content, it means I am adding some value to their lives. If my content doesn’t resonate with their expectations then I will easily lose them. That’s why I try to maximise transparency and authenticity in my interactions, sharing both successes and challenges openly with my followers and I think this makes them feel relatable and approachable leaving a long-lasting positive impact on them.

How do creators approach the creator marketplace for collaborations with brands in Nepal? What should they prioritise before a brand approaches them for collaborations?

Well, the content creation is a growing market in Nepal. So, we have a handful of influencer marketing agencies and creator marketplaces in Nepal. I barely have heard any popular names in this field here. For content creators, the quality and authenticity of their content must be a non-negotiable factor even during the brand collaboration. For example, I collaborate only with those brands whose values align with mine and whose products or services I frequently use myself and genuinely trust. I also pretty ensure that any sponsored content I create maintains the same level of sanity, quality and authenticity as my other regular posts. I mean they should provide the same value to both the brand and my audience leaving an unforgettable impact on both parties. Nowadays many brands related to online gambling, illegal websites, etc reach us more frequently than genuine brands, so I do sponsorship very rarely as compared to the past.

What advice would you give to influencers looking to maintain authenticity while collaborating with brands?

My advice to fellow content creators would be to stay true to themself and their values. Always choose those collaborations that genuinely resonate with you, your values, and your audience. Don’t compromise your authenticity for the sake of a brand partnership, engagement or financial gain. I always advise all professional content creators to disclose sponsored content transparently. This builds trust among our followers.

You are known and admired by millions of people now. Did social media play any role in your journey?

Social media is an instrumental and powerful tool to amplify our message and expand our reach across the globe. That’s why, social media has become an extra layer of validation for all of us. In contrast to traditional media, where the exposure was limited and controlled by big media companies, social media has provided me with a platform where I can share my medical knowledge and experiences, advocate for social causes, inspire others through my athletic pursuits, and even explore opportunities in the modelling industry on my own without being dependent on anybody. I’ve been able to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and make a positive impact on their lives on a larger scale than a person could have done before the social media era. I must agree with the point that the role of social media was vital in my career.

Every success comes with some of the challenges. You too might have gone through various difficulties during your journey. What were they and how did you overcome them?

Everybody has their own story, challenges, and difficulties during their journey. Like everybody else’s journey, mine has been filled with the challenges of managing time effectively to navigate the complexities of influencer marketing, philanthropy, medical studies, and sports. I’ve learned to embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth and adaptation. It’s the fact that a single human being can’t be everywhere at a time. So, I focus on a single task at a time, complete it and move on to another. I allocate a specific amount of time for each sector every day. I stay resilient, maintain a positive mindset, and seek support from my community whenever I am in need. This is my strategy which provides me strength to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger than ever.

You hold a multidisciplinary background ranging from medical, sports, philanthropy, and journalism to social media content creation. Is there any specific aspiration in your mind that we can expect from you in the near future?

I always aim to make a meaningful positive impact on people. Through my medical practice, athletic endeavours, or community outreach initiatives I want to improve fields such as healthcare, sports, philanthropy, and social activism to empower people so that they will be able to lead their lives in healthier and more fulfilling ways. I hope to continue growing and evolving as a successful individual and impactful content creator. In future, I will strive more to expand my existing connections and explore more opportunities for my personal and professional development. I honestly dream of creating a society where there is no discrimination, injustice, inequality, violence, or diseases. Along with this, I will also focus on expanding the boundaries of my influence keeping in mind the morale and authenticity of content creation, sports, and social work. 

Are there any key principles or values that you believe are essential for aspiring influencers to embody?

Of course, as an aspiring content creator, one should realise that integrity, authenticity, and empathy are paramount. I would like to suggest them to stay true to themself and their principle values, be transparent in their interactions and always prioritize the well-being of their audience. We should never forget that influence comes with responsibility, so always use the platform to inspire, educate, and uplift others in meaningful ways for long-term growth.