Laser Focused
Laser Focused is a podcast for tech leaders facing the moments no one prepares you for. When the playbook stops working, the team needs answers you don’t have, and every decision lands on you. Through honest conversations with founders, CTOs, and executives who’ve been there, we share battle-tested insights you can actually use. No frameworks. No theory. Just real stories and practical wisdom in 30 minutes or less.
Follow Us
YouTube
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Latest EPISODES
- The Only Decision | Bob StewartEpisdode 3 – The Only Decision. Bob Stewart is a serial CTO and founder of Apex Velocity Catalyst. He served as CTO at Dell EMC’s Global Security Group and at Motorola’s Internet & Networking Group, where he built the cable modem business from the ground up — climbing from contractor to CTO in four years.… Read more: The Only Decision | Bob Stewart
- Get Them Excited about Fishing | Aviel GinsburgEpisode 2: Get Them Excited About Fishing | Aviel Ginzburg Aviel Ginzburg is General Partner at Founders’ Co-op, where he just closed a $50 million Fund VI investing in pre-seed companies across the Pacific Northwest. He’s also the founder of Foundations Seattle, an invite-only community of 250+ members on Capitol Hill that’s become the center… Read more: Get Them Excited about Fishing | Aviel Ginsburg
- Know Your Line Before You Walk In | Rebecca Norlander
Rebecca Norlander is a renowned technology leader and Chief Product Officer at Verific.AI. In this episode, Rebecca tells her story from when she was a Group Manager at Microsoft running the release of Windows XP SP2 during a white-hot security crisis. Microsoft was facing intense pressure. Customers had serious security vulnerabilities, and trust in Windows… Read more: Know Your Line Before You Walk In | Rebecca Norlander
Meet Your Host
Mark Alcazar
I’m Mark Alcazar. I’m an engineering leader, a builder, a CTO and a former Microsoft VP of Engineering. I’ve learned that some of the hardest problems in tech aren’t technical. They’re leadership problems. And they’re lonely.
I started Laser Focused because when I was underwater, overwhelmed, and strugglingthe help I needed didn’t exist.
So I’m building it.
Tech has plenty of frameworks and thought leadership. What’s missing is applied wisdom from people who’ve actually operated. I don’t have all the answers. I’m still learning. But if you’re a founder, or technology leader who’s ever felt like the only one struggling: you’re not.