Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 2026.
This is the plain-English version. I collect what I need to run The Serious CTO, send email, handle purchases, manage access, and tell whether the site is working. I do not build a dossier because you clicked a link.
Who runs this site
The Serious CTO is operated by Karell Ste-Marie in Canada. This page is a practical summary of how the site handles personal information. It is not a custom legal opinion for your situation.
Information you provide
You may give me information when you subscribe, join the community, buy something, fill out a form, book a call, comment, or contact me. That can include your name, email address, profile information, payment-related details handled by a payment processor, and whatever you choose to write.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, this site and its providers may collect basic technical information such as IP address, device and browser type, pages visited, referral links, cookies, and analytics events.
How information is used
- Run the website, newsletter, community, products, and services
- Respond to messages and support requests
- Process purchases, invoices, access, and account changes
- Understand what content and pages are working
- Protect the site, community, and users from spam, abuse, or security issues
- Meet reasonable legal, tax, accounting, and platform obligations
Service providers
The Serious CTO may use providers such as Cloudflare, Google/YouTube, Skool, newsletter platforms, analytics tools, payment processors, scheduling tools, and similar services. They process data under their own policies too.
Those providers may store or process information in Canada, the United States, or other countries. When that happens, local laws may apply to the information they handle.
Payments
Payment information is handled by payment processors or invoicing platforms. I do not want your raw card data. I have enough problems.
Sharing
I do not sell your personal information. Information may be shared with service providers that help operate the site and services, when required by law, or when needed to protect the business, users, or community.
Retention and security
I keep information only as long as reasonably needed for the reasons above, including support, accounting, tax, security, and business records. Some records cannot be deleted instantly just because everyone would prefer a cleaner spreadsheet.
I use reasonable safeguards for a small business site. No internet service is perfect, and anyone claiming otherwise is probably about to send you a password in Slack.
Your choices and requests
You can unsubscribe from emails using the link in the email. You can adjust cookie and browser settings. You can ask to access, correct, or delete personal information connected to you; some requests may be limited by records I need to keep.
For privacy questions or requests, contact me through the channel connected to the service you used, or use the public contact links at linktr.ee/theseriouscto.
Children
This site is not aimed at children. Do not submit personal information if you are not old enough to use the relevant service in your location.
Changes
This policy may change as the site and services change. The updated version will live on this page.