Privacy Policy

What this website collects, how it is used, who else is involved, and the choices you have. Written in plain language, because a privacy policy only helps if people can actually read it.

Who this policy covers

This website, nathanvaknin.com, is run by Nathan Vaknin. When this policy says “I”, “me” or “my”, it means Nathan Vaknin. When it says “you”, it means anyone who visits the site, reads its articles, or reaches out through it.

This policy applies to the website itself and to any conversation that starts through it. It does not cover other websites that you reach by following a link from here, even if I recommend them. Those sites have their own policies, and I encourage you to read them.

The short version

If you only read one part of this page, read this one.

I do not sell, rent or trade your personal information, and I never will.
This website does not run advertising trackers or analytics tools at the time of writing.
The contact form does not store your message on this website. It hands your details to a scheduling service or to your own email app, as explained below.
I use what you share only to understand your situation, prepare for our conversation, and follow up in ways you have asked for.
You can ask me what I hold about you, ask me to correct it, or ask me to delete it at any time.

Information you choose to share

Most of the information I receive comes directly from you. The conversation form asks for your first and last name, your email address, an optional company name, whether your question is personal or professional, what you would like help with, and what you hope to achieve.

It helps to know how the form actually works, because it is simpler than most. When you press the button, your details are not sent to or saved on this website. Instead, one of two things happens:

Scheduling: a booking window from Calendly opens, with your name, email and answers already filled in so you do not have to type them twice. When you choose a time and confirm, Calendly receives that information and sends it to me as part of the booking.
Email: if online scheduling is not available, your own email app opens with a message already written to me. Nothing is sent until you press send in your email app, and you can edit or delete anything first.

Beyond the form, you may share information when you email me directly, when we speak on a call, or when you send notes or documents to help me prepare. I treat all of this with the same care.

Please share only what you are comfortable sharing. I ask that you avoid sending highly sensitive medical, legal, financial or confidential business details through the form or by email. If those details matter to your situation, we can talk about them during the conversation instead.

Information collected automatically

Like almost every website, this one runs on a hosting server that keeps basic technical records each time a page is requested. These server logs typically include your IP address, the type of browser and device you use, the page you asked for, the page that referred you, and the date and time of the visit.

These records are used to keep the website running, protect it from abuse, and diagnose problems. They are not used to build a profile of you, and I do not combine them with the information you share through the form. Hosting providers usually keep these logs for a limited period and then delete them automatically.

This website does not place advertising or tracking cookies on your device. The fonts are stored on the site itself, so your browser does not contact an outside font service when pages load. If you log in to the WordPress dashboard, which only site administrators do, WordPress uses cookies to keep you signed in. Ordinary visitors never see those cookies.

If I ever add an analytics tool to understand which articles are useful, I will update this policy first, name the tool, and explain what it collects.

Outside services this website uses

A small number of outside companies are involved in running this website. Each one only receives information when it is needed for the service it provides.

Calendly handles scheduling. Its booking window only loads after you submit the form, so Calendly receives nothing from simply browsing the site. When it opens, Calendly may use its own cookies, and its privacy policy applies to the booking.
Unsplash serves the photograph at the top of the home page on large screens. To show it, your browser requests the image from Unsplash, which means Unsplash receives your IP address and basic browser details, as any image service would.
Email and calendar providers carry our messages and meeting invitations, as with any email you send or receive.
Social networks such as LinkedIn, Instagram and X are only contacted if you click a link or share button that takes you there.

I do not control how these companies handle information, so I encourage you to read their privacy policies. I choose services with a good reputation and use only the features this website actually needs.

How I use your information

I use the information you share for a narrow set of purposes:

To understand your situation and prepare properly before we speak.
To schedule, hold and follow up on our conversation.
To reply to your questions and messages.
To introduce you to a person, tool or organization, but only when you ask me to or agree to it.
To keep the website secure and working, and to meet any legal obligations.

I do not use your information for advertising. I do not add you to a mailing list unless you clearly ask to join one. I do not use what you tell me to sell you anything, because there is nothing to sell. Conversations through this website are free, and I do not accept referral fees or commissions from anyone I recommend.

When information may be shared

Your information stays with me, apart from these limited situations:

Introductions you ask for. If you want me to connect you with someone, I will confirm what you are happy for me to share and pass on only what the introduction needs.
Service providers. Hosting, email and scheduling services handle information as part of running the site, as described above.
Legal requirements. I may disclose information if the law requires it, for example in response to a valid court order.
Safety. If there is a genuine risk of serious harm to you or someone else, I may share the minimum information needed to help keep people safe.

How long information is kept

I keep emails, booking details and conversation notes for as long as they are useful to our conversation and to any follow up you have asked for. I review what I hold at least once a year and delete what is no longer needed.

You do not have to wait for that review. If you would like your information deleted sooner, email me and I will take care of it, unless the law requires me to keep a particular record. Server logs are kept and deleted by the hosting provider on its own schedule.

How your information is protected

The website uses an encrypted connection (HTTPS), so information passing between your browser and the site cannot easily be read by others. Only I have access to the messages and notes you send. I use reputable providers, keep the website software up to date, and protect my accounts with strong passwords and two step sign in where available.

No method of sending or storing information is completely secure, so I cannot promise absolute security. What I can promise is to take reasonable care, and to tell you promptly if I ever learn that your information has been affected by a security problem.

Your rights and choices

Wherever you live, you can ask me to:

Tell you what personal information I hold about you and give you a copy.
Correct information that is wrong or out of date.
Delete your information.
Stop using your information for a particular purpose.
Withdraw any permission you gave earlier, such as agreement to an introduction.

Depending on where you live, privacy laws such as the GDPR in the European Union and United Kingdom, or the CCPA in California, may give you additional rights. I do not sell personal information, and I do not share it for cross context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined under California law.

To make a request, email hello@nathanvaknin.com. I may ask you to confirm your identity so that I do not hand your information to someone else. I aim to respond within 30 days. If you are in the European Union or United Kingdom, you also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority, although I would appreciate the chance to put things right first.

Children

This website offers guidance to adults and is not directed at children. I do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a young person has shared information through the site, please contact me and I will delete it.

Visitors from other countries

This website can be visited from anywhere, and the services it relies on may store information in the United States and other countries. Where information moves between countries, I rely on providers that offer appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

Changes to this policy

If the way this website handles information changes, for example if a new tool is added, I will update this page and change the date at the top. For significant changes, I will add a short note explaining what changed. Checking this page from time to time is the best way to stay informed.

Questions about your privacy

If anything on this page is unclear, or you want to exercise any of the rights above, email hello@nathanvaknin.com. A real person reads every message, and I will give you a straight answer.