Linh Tran

How does your day usually start before diving into work?

I like to ease into the day by thinking about where we are in the bigger picture, not just what's on my to-do list.

Every morning, I do a quick mental recap: What day of the Sprint is it? How far along are we with our current tasks? What are this quarter's OKRs? What’s been achieved so far, and what’s next? This helps me stay aligned with both the team’s goals and the company’s direction. 

I’ve learned that at Creative Force, it’s not enough to just ask, “What do I need to get done today?” It requires a clear understanding of the company’s vision and strategic roadmap. This perspective helps tremendously in prioritizing tasks, making sound decisions, and ensuring maximum impact in product development.

Can you tell us about your career journey at Creative Force?

Sure! To be honest, there weren’t any big “Aha!” moments or overnight promotions. Growth here has been more of a steady climb.

At a scale-up, professional growth comes naturally because everything around you is expanding: the team, the company, the product. There is always something new happening. For those eager to challenge themselves, few environments offer as many opportunities to develop as a scale-up.

I made a point of embracing the unique growth environment at Creative Force. As a developer, I took on responsibilities like a Senior. When I became a Senior, I pushed myself to think and contribute like a Team Leader.

At every stage, I raised the bar for myself, and Creative Force consistently provided the opportunities to match that ambition. This support ultimately helped me grow into a Development Team Leader.

That mindset of always leveling up my own standards, before waiting for a title, helped me develop faster and contribute more meaningfully. I wasn’t just waiting to be told what to do. I was already doing it.

When you recognize your role and value in a smoothly running machine, career advancement becomes a matter of time. As the company grows, you grow along with it.

What’s been the biggest challenge in stepping into a leadership role?

The biggest shift was definitely a mental one.

As a developer, your value is in your own output. You’re an individual contributor. But as a Team Leader, your impact comes from how well you enable the team. For me, I had to step back and think, “How can I help my team do our best work?”

I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered it yet—we’re still growing, both as a team and as individuals—but I believe that soon, we’ll be operating like a well-oiled machine.

What is it about Creative Force that supports developer growth?

There are two things I really appreciate.
First, the flat structure. You can talk to teammates, PMs, SAs, and even the CTO without any weird hierarchy. That access helps you learn quickly and manage your work independently, while also picking up new perspectives along the way.

Second, the culture. The team here is strong. Technically sharp, yes. But also professional, humble, and genuinely fun to work with. It’s the kind of environment where you grow just by being around great people.

And it’s not just about work, either. I joined two out of three games in this year’s Summer Indoor Tournament—foosball and FC25 on the PlayStation 5. Whether it’s going head-to-head in a friendly match or the knockout round, there’s always this healthy mix of competition, camaraderie, and fun. It brings people together and reminds you that growth doesn’t have to feel like a grind.

For Senior .NET Developers thinking about joining Creative Force, what should they know?

Creative Force has a long-term vision. If you’re passionate about building great products and serious about your craft, there are endless opportunities here.

Just show up with the right mindset. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be hungry to learn, ready to take initiative, and focused on delivering real impact. The rest will follow.