Capturing attention as a 13-year-old Growth Director at a tech startup, few would imagine that Nguyen Nam Long was once a gaming enthusiast who spent entire summers immersed in video games and naps - until he discovered his true passion for programming.

From summer gaming to self-taught coding and a father's quiet mentorship

Nguyen Nam Long is currently a 7th-grade student at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City. Introduced to technology at the age of 6, Long’s family proactively encouraged his early interaction with computers.

Unlike many peers drawn to social media, Long turned to YouTube as a companion in learning, using the platform to explore and teach himself programming skills naturally.

Behind the journey of this young director’s blend of study and play stands the quiet but steady support of his family.

He never enrolled in extra classes or tutoring. Instead, Long spent most of his free time immersed in programming - creating small games and conducting applied scientific research. While peers attended debate clubs or packed summer programs, Long chose a quieter path: sitting at his computer, learning through English videos, experimenting with coding ideas, all under the patient guidance of his first and most devoted teacher - his father.

“My parents never pressured me to take extra classes or chase academic scores. I had lots of time to play games - until I grew bored. That’s when I found programming. It just drew me in,” Long said.

According to Long’s father, Nam Nguyen, he never imposed academic schedules or score expectations. Instead, he raised his son with patience and trust - allowing Long to discover his own interests and quietly supporting his journey.

Over the past seven years, Long has not only maintained top academic performance but also cultivated a deep understanding of technology, strong English skills, and a notable ability to share knowledge with others.

“Outside of school, I spend my time gaming, coding, and building skills. But the most important thing is that I get to do what I really love,” Long said.

Each summer, this 7th grader selects a new direction to explore. Last summer was devoted to writing games and working on scientific research. This year, he’s chosen a more hands-on path by joining the executive team of a software company.

A 13-year-old executive with a mission to spread coding knowledge to kids

This summer marks a major milestone as Long officially takes on the role of Growth Director at Opla CRM, a Ho Chi Minh City-based startup that develops gamification tools for customer relationship management.

In this role, Long works with sales, technical, and product teams to devise growth strategies. His performance goal is clearly defined: attract 1,000 international users to test the software within 100 days.

“This was actually an opportunity my dad suggested, but I still had to prove I had the knowledge, skills, and time to do the job well,” Long explained. He now works full-time four days a week, in addition to his scientific research activities.

Despite his young age, Long finds it easy to work with older colleagues, thanks to his early exposure to professional environments.

Notably, he avoids Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok - the typical platforms for his Gen Alpha peers - and instead builds his personal brand exclusively on LinkedIn. His first posts, written entirely in English, quickly caught the attention of the global startup and tech community.

According to Long, Gen Alpha kids like him have many advantages - they access technology early, learn fast, and master digital tools with ease. However, they also face challenges, especially in social interaction and time management - skills Long is actively working to improve.

Interestingly, Long doesn’t set rigid long-term goals. He doesn’t chart out a detailed path for the future. That openness allows him to stay receptive to new opportunities and ready to take on anything that sparks his curiosity.

Outside of work, Long still enjoys being a regular kid - playing table tennis and collecting Pokémon cards.

In a chat with Vietnamnet, Long revealed that he is planning to launch basic programming classes taught by himself. His goal is to share knowledge, inspire peers, and give children without access to extra tutoring the chance to explore technology early.

At an age when most kids are still figuring out their interests and identities, Nguyen Nam Long has chosen a path of learning, playing, and working - all on his own terms.

He doesn’t pressure himself to succeed early, but with the solid foundation he’s built, Long is more than ready to absorb knowledge, gain real-world experience, and grow into his future in his own unique way.

Ha Thuong