Privacy notice
Last updated October 4, 2026
The Operations Brief is published by Colony Spark, LLC, a company based in the United States. This page covers what we collect on theoperationsbrief.com, why we collect it, and the choices you have. For questions or requests, email tob@colonyspark.com.
What we collect
When you join the list. Your email address, your name if you give it, and a record that you asked for The Operations Brief. We use this only to send you the newsletter. It is kept in our email list software, Listmonk.
When you browse the site. If you allow it, Google Analytics records the pages you view, how you reached the site, your approximate location (city and country), your device and browser type, and whether you click Subscribe. Google uses your IP address to estimate location and does not store it. We don't use Google's advertising features, and we don't link this data to your email address.
When any page loads. Cloudflare hosts the site. It processes technical data such as your IP address to deliver pages and block abuse.
Cookies and your choice
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Google Analytics | Tells one visitor from another | 2 years |
_ga_<ID> | Google Analytics | Keeps track of the current visit | 2 years |
ob-consent | This site, stored in your browser | Remembers your cookie choice | 12 months |
If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland, Google Analytics stays off until you click Accept. Everywhere else it is on unless you click Decline. You can change your choice at any time with Cookie settings at the bottom of every page.
Our legal basis
For readers in the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland, the newsletter and analytics cookies rely on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time. Hosting and security rely on our legitimate interest in running a working, safe website.
Who else handles it
Only the providers that run the site for us: Google (Analytics and Tag Manager), Cloudflare (hosting) and the provider that hosts our email list. We don't sell or rent your information, and we don't share it for advertising.
Links to the newsletter archive and to colonyspark.com lead to other sites, which have their own privacy policies.
Where it is stored
We are based in the United States, and your information may be processed there. When our providers move data from the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland to the United States, they rely on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework or on standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission.
How long we keep it
- We keep your email address and name until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them.
- Google keeps analytics data for 14 months and then deletes it.
- Your browser keeps your cookie choice for 12 months. After that, we ask again.
Your rights
You can ask us to show you what we hold about you, correct it, delete it, stop using it, or send you a copy. You can withdraw your consent at any time. Email tob@colonyspark.com and we will reply within one month. To stop getting the newsletter, unsubscribe from any issue or email us.
If you are in the European Economic Area, the UK or Switzerland and are unhappy with how we handled your information, you can complain to your local data protection authority.
If you live in a US state that gives you privacy rights, you can make the same requests the same way.
Children
The site is written for working professionals and is not meant for anyone under 16.
Changes
If we change this notice, we will post the new version here and update the date at the top.