Privacy Policy

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Dr. Melanie Empowers / Empower Us, Inc.

Effective Date: April 27, 2026

Your privacy matters to us. This Privacy Policy explains how drmelanieempowers.com collects, uses, and protects your personal information. We encourage you to read this document carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data and how we treat it.

1.1 Welcome to drmelanieempowers.com (the “Website”). We appreciate your trust in us and are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our Website, engage with our services, or otherwise interact with us.

1.2 This Website is owned and operated by Dr. Melanie Empowers / Empower Us, Inc. (“we,” “our,” or “us”), a leadership development consulting and organizational transformation advisory firm headquartered in Austin, Texas.

1.3 This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our Website, as well as any related services, events, workshops, retreats, coaching sessions, consulting engagements, podcast activities, and communications that reference or link to this policy.

1.4 By accessing or using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use the Website.

1.5 This Privacy Policy should be read in conjunction with our Terms and Conditions, which govern your use of the Website. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Privacy Policy have the meanings assigned to them in our Terms and Conditions.

We collect information in several ways depending on how you interact with our Website and services. The categories of information we collect are described below.

When you voluntarily submit information to us—such as by filling out a form, registering for an event, or contacting us—we may collect the following types of personal information:

● Name (first and last)

● Email address

● Phone number

● Company or organization name

● Job title

● Mailing address

● Payment and billing information (credit card numbers, billing addresses, and related financial data necessary to process transactions for our services)

● Any other information you choose to provide in free-text fields, messages, or correspondence with us

This information may be collected through contact forms, consultation request forms, workshop and retreat registration, newsletter sign-up forms, podcast guest applications, coaching intake questionnaires, and direct email or phone communications.

When you visit our Website, certain information is collected automatically through standard internet technologies. This information may include:

● IP address

● Browser type and version

● Operating system

● Device information (device type, screen resolution, language settings)

● Referring URLs (the website or source that directed you to our Website)

● Pages visited on our Website

● Time spent on pages

● Click patterns and navigation behavior

● Date and time of visits

We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and local storage technologies to collect information about your browsing activity and preferences. These technologies help us understand how visitors use our Website, remember your preferences, and improve your overall experience. For detailed information about the cookies we use, please see Section 6 (Cookies and Tracking Technologies) of this Privacy Policy.

We may receive information about you from third-party sources, including:

● Social media platforms—if you interact with our accounts or content on platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or other social media services, we may receive information that you have made publicly available on those platforms.

● Payment processors—we may receive transaction confirmation and limited billing information from our third-party payment processors.

● Analytics providers—we receive aggregated and individual-level data about Website visitors from analytics services.

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Delivery. To provide, maintain, and improve our Website and services, including leadership development consulting, organizational transformation advisory, executive coaching, workshops, retreats, and related programs.

3.2 Registration and Event Management. To process your registrations for workshops, retreats, coaching sessions, consulting engagements, and other events or programs we offer.

3.3 Communications.To communicate with you, respond to your inquiries, send booking and registration confirmations, provide service updates, and deliver information you have requested.

3.4 Marketing and Educational Content. To send you newsletters, educational resources, blog updates, and promotional communications about our services, events, and offerings. You may opt out of marketing communications at any time (see Section 12).

3.5 Payment Processing. To process payments for services, manage billing, issue invoices, and maintain financial records.

3.6 Personalization.To personalize your experience on the Website by presenting content and offerings that are relevant to your interests and needs.

3.7 Analytics and Improvement. To analyze Website usage patterns, measure the effectiveness of our content and features, and continuously improve the functionality, performance, and user experience of our Website.

3.8 Legal Compliance. To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or enforceable governmental requests.

3.9 Rights Protection. To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, and that of our users, employees, or the public, as required or permitted by law.

3.10 Podcast Operations. To administer podcast-related communications, coordinate with podcast guests, manage scheduling, and facilitate content production and distribution.

We process your personal information on the following legal bases:

4.1 Consent.Where you have given us clear, affirmative consent to process your personal data for a specific purpose—such as subscribing to our newsletter, opting in to receive marketing communications, or submitting a podcast guest application. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

4.2 Contractual Necessity. Where processing is necessary to perform a contract with you or to take pre-contractual steps at your request, such as delivering consulting services, processing workshop registrations, managing coaching engagements, or fulfilling a service agreement.

4.3 Legitimate Interests. Where processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests, we will do so, provided your rights and freedoms do not override those interests. Our legitimate interests include operating and improving our website, ensuring security, conducting analytics, preventing fraud, and communicating about our services.

4.4 Legal Compliance. Where processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation to which we are subject, including tax recordkeeping, regulatory reporting, and responding to lawful requests from public authorities.

5.1 As a Texas-based business, we are committed to complying with the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), which became effective on July 1, 2024. TDPSA regulates the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers’ personal data by businesses operating in Texas or serving Texas residents.

If you are a Texas resident, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

● Right to Know. You have the right to confirm whether we are processing your personal data.

● Right to Access. You have the right to access the personal data we have collected about you.

● Right to Correct. You have the right to request correction of inaccuracies in your personal data, taking into account the nature of the data and the purposes of processing.

● Right to Delete. You have the right to request deletion of personal data you have provided to us or that we have obtained about you.

● Right to Data Portability. You have the right to obtain a copy of your personal data in a portable and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable format that allows you to transmit the data to another controller without hindrance.

● Right to Opt Out. You have the right to opt out of the processing of your personal data for purposes of: (a) targeted advertising; (b) the sale of personal data; or (c) profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you.

To exercise any of the rights described above, you may submit a request by emailing us at contact@drmelanieempowers.com. In your request, please clearly describe the right you wish to exercise and provide sufficient information for us to verify your identity and locate your data.

Upon receiving your request, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before responding. We may ask you to confirm certain personal information that we already have on file or to provide additional documentation. We will not fulfill a request if we are unable to verify your identity or authority to make the request.

We will respond to your verified request within forty-five (45) days of receipt. If additional time is reasonably necessary due to the complexity of the request or the volume of requests received, we may extend the response period by an additional forty-five (45) days, provided we notify you of the extension and the reason for it within the initial 45-day period.

If we decline to act on your request, we will inform you of our reasons and provide instructions for how to appeal the decision. You may appeal a denied request by emailing us at contact@drmelanieempowers.com with the subject line “Privacy Rights Appeal.” We will respond to your appeal within sixty (60) days. If your appeal is denied, you may contact the Texas Attorney General to submit a complaint.

Effective January 1, 2025, the TDPSA requires businesses to recognize universal opt-out mechanisms. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals sent by your browser. When we detect a GPC signal, we treat it as a valid request to opt out of the sale of personal data and targeted advertising for that user. No further action is required on your part.

We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your rights under the TDPSA. We will not deny you goods or services, charge you different prices, provide a different level or quality of service, or take any other adverse action because you exercised your privacy rights.

The TDPSA defines certain categories of personal data as “sensitive,” including data revealing racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, health diagnosis, sexuality, citizenship or immigration status, genetic or biometric data, children’s data, and precise geolocation. We will obtain your affirmative consent before processing any sensitive personal data as defined under the TDPSA. We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal data without consent.

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, provide better user experience, and supply information to website operators. Other tracking technologies—such as web beacons, pixels, and local storage—serve similar purposes.

We use the following categories of cookies on our website:

(a) Essential / Strictly Necessary Cookies. These cookies are required for the basic functionality of the Website. They enable core features such as session management, security, and accessibility. Without these cookies, the Website cannot function properly. These cookies do not require your consent.

(b) Analytics / Performance Cookies.These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information about pages visited, time spent on the site, error messages encountered, and other usage data. We use analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to gather this information in aggregate. This data helps us improve Website content and functionality.

(c) Functionality Cookies.These cookies allow the Website to remember choices you have made (such as your preferred language or region) and provide enhanced, more personalized features. They may also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts, and other customizable elements of the Website.

(d) Marketing / Advertising Cookies. If applicable, these cookies may be used to track your browsing activity across different websites and to deliver advertisements that are relevant to your interests. We will obtain your consent before deploying marketing or advertising cookies.

Third-party service providers, such as analytics platforms, social media networks, and advertising partners, place cookies on our Website. These third parties may use cookies to collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites. We do not control these third-party cookies, and their use is governed by the respective third party’s privacy policy.

You can manage your cookie preferences in the following ways:

● Browser Settings. Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse all cookies, accept only certain cookies, or alert you when cookies are being placed. Please consult your browser’s help documentation for instructions specific to your browser.

● Opt-Out Links. Certain third-party analytics providers offer their own opt-out mechanisms. For example, you may opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-on.

● Cookie Consent Tools. If we deploy a cookie consent management tool on the Website, you may use it to adjust your preferences at any time.

Please note that disabling or deleting certain cookies may affect the Website's functionality and prevent you from accessing certain features.

Some web browsers transmit “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals to the websites you visit. There is currently no universally accepted standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals. Currently, our Website does not respond to DNT signals in a standardized manner. However, we do honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals as described in Section 5.7 of this Privacy Policy.

We honor GPC signals as a valid opt-out mechanism for the sale of personal data and targeted advertising, as required by the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act and other applicable state privacy laws. When a GPC signal is detected, we will suppress any data selling, sharing, or targeted advertising activities for that user without requiring any additional action.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not share your personal data for cross-context behavioral advertising without your consent. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

7.1 Service Providers. We engage trusted third-party service providers who perform functions on our behalf, including payment processing, email marketing, website hosting, cloud storage, analytics, customer relationship management, and technical support. These service providers are contractually bound to use your information only as directed by us and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, and to maintain the confidentiality and security of your data.

7.2 Professional Advisors. We may share your information with our attorneys, accountants, auditors, and other professional advisors as necessary to conduct our business, including for legal advice, financial reporting, and compliance purposes.

7.3 Legal Requirements. We may disclose your information when required by law, subpoena, court order, or governmental request, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our legal rights, enforce our Terms and Conditions, investigate potential violations, or protect the safety of any person.

7.4 Business Transfers. In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, bankruptcy, or similar transaction involving all or a portion of our business, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or a prominent notice on our Website of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

7.5 With Your Consent. We may share your information with third parties when you have explicitly authorized us to do so. We will inform you of the purpose and the recipient before obtaining your consent.

8.1 We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, as described in this Privacy Policy, or as required by applicable law. The specific retention periods we apply depend on the nature of the data and the purpose for which it is held:

Data Category

Retention Period

Account and registration   data

Duration of the business   relationship plus 3 years

Transaction and payment   records

7 years (tax and legal   compliance)

Marketing communications   data

Until you unsubscribe or   withdraw consent

Website analytics data

26 months

Inquiry and contact form   submissions

2 years

8.2 Upon expiration of the applicable retention period, your personal data will be securely deleted or anonymized in accordance with our data disposal procedures. Anonymized data, which can no longer be linked to you, may be retained indefinitely for research and analytical purposes.

9.1 We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your personal information. These measures include, but are not limited to:

● Encryption in Transit. All data transmitted between your browser and our Website is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols.

● Access Controls. Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel who need the information to perform their job functions. Access is managed through authentication mechanisms and role-based permissions.

● Regular Security Assessments. We periodically review our security practices and infrastructure to identify and address vulnerabilities.

● Secure Data Storage. Personal data is stored on secure servers maintained by reputable hosting providers with industry-standard security certifications.

9.2 While we take reasonable steps to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data. We encourage you to take steps to protect your own information, including using strong passwords and keeping your login credentials confidential.

9.3 If you believe that your personal information has been compromised or that there has been unauthorized access to your account, please notify us immediately at contact@drmelanieempowers.comso that we can investigate and take appropriate action.

10.1 Our Website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of eighteen (18). We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under the age of thirteen (13).

10.2 If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child under the age of 13 without verified parental consent, we will take prompt steps to delete that information from our records.

10.3 If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under the age of 13 has provided us with personal information, please get in touch with us at contact@drmelanieempowers.comso that we can take appropriate action to remove the data.

11.1 Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, and services that are not owned or controlled by us. These links are provided for your convenience and informational purposes only.

11.2 We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. The inclusion of a link on our Website does not imply endorsement of the linked site or any association with its operators.

11.3 We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policy of every website you visit before providing any personal information. Your interactions with third-party websites are governed solely by those websites’ own terms and policies.

12.1 If you have opted in to receive marketing communications from us, you may receive periodic newsletters, educational content, blog updates, event announcements, and promotional messages related to our services and offerings.

12.2 Every marketing email we send includes a clear and conspicuous unsubscribed option. You may click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any marketing email to opt out of future marketing messages.

12.3 Alternatively, you may email us directly at contact@drmelanieempowers.com with the subject line “Unsubscribe” to request removal from our marketing mailing list.

12.4 We will honor your opt-out request within ten (10) business days of receipt. Please note that during this processing period, you may continue to receive messages that were already in the queue before your request.

12.5 Opting out of marketing communications will not affect your receipt of transactional or service-related emails, such as registration confirmations, payment receipts, appointment reminders, and other communications necessary for the delivery of services you have requested.

13.1 In addition to the rights described under the TDPSA (see Section 5), you may have the following rights depending on your jurisdiction and applicable law:

● Right to Access. You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

● Right to Correction. You may request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

● Right to Deletion. You may request that we delete your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.

● Right to Opt Out. You may opt out of the processing of your personal data for targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, or profiling.

● Right to Withdraw Consent. Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before the withdrawal.

● Right to Data Portability. You may request a portable copy of your personal data in a commonly used, machine-readable format.

13.2 To exercise any of these rights, please submit a request to contact@drmelanieempowers.com. We will verify your identity and respond to your request in accordance with the timelines described in Section 5.5.

13.3 We will not discriminate against you in any way for exercising your privacy rights. You will not be denied services, charged different prices, or provided with a different quality of service as a result of exercising these rights.

14.1 Our Website is operated from the United States, and our services are primarily offered within the United States. All personal data we collect is processed and stored in the United States.

14.2 If you are accessing our Website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States. By using the Website or submitting your personal data to us, you consent to the transfer and processing of your data in the United States.

14.3 Data protection laws in the United States may differ from those in your country of residence. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that your personal data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, regardless of where it is processed.

15.1 We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will revise the “Effective Date” at the top of this document.

15.2 If we make material changes to how we collect, use, or share your personal information, we will notify you by posting the updated Privacy Policy prominently on our Website. Where required by law, we may also notify you by email or other direct communication.

15.3 Your continued use of the Website after the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the changes, you should discontinue your use of the Website.

15.4 We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, we encourage you to reach out to us. We are here to help.

Dr. Melanie Empowers / Empower Us,   Inc.

Austin, Texas

Website: drmelanieempowers.com

Email: contact@drmelanieempowers.com

16.1 For general privacy questions or concerns, please email us at the address above. We will make every reasonable effort to address your inquiry promptly.

16.2 For TDPSA rights requests—including requests to access, correct, delete, or opt out of the processing of your personal data—please direct your request to contact@drmelanieempowers.com. Please include “TDPSA Rights Request” in the subject line and provide sufficient information to verify your identity.

16.3 We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with the response periods described in this Privacy Policy.

Thank you for trusting Dr. Melanie Empowers / Empower Us, Inc. with your personal information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and empowering you with transparency about our data practices. If you have any questions, we are always here to help.

© 2026 Dr. Melanie Empowers / Empower Us, Inc. All rights reserved.