'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Meeting new people can be fraught. Are any topic off-limits? Where do our views align and differ? What's the etiquette around taking the last biscuit?
Those concerns - especially about the biscuit - go into overdrive when we're forming new business relationships. That's why we asked the members of this year's Top 100 IT Leaders list to imagine they had a warning label, and what it would say.
The answers that came back are gold dust for anyone hoping to do business with the UK's tech elite.
Did you know, for example, that Tom Clark of Ardonagh Advisory is red hot on taking responsibility; that Kellog's Lesley Salmon doesn't tolerate exclusion; and that Charles Ewen of the Met Office thinks with his mouth open?
If not, read on to find some of the best, most revealing and funniest answers we received.
Laura Meyer, angel investor and former HarperCollins CIO
Be kind or stay away
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Andy Caddy, CIO, PureGym
Do not expose to sunshine
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Terry Willis, Director of Technology, Church of England
Warning: Does not respond to unsolicited emails!
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Steve Woodward, Head of Blockchain, AngloAmerican
Don't feed (donner kebabs) after midnight
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Dewi Price, Interim CIO, Inizio Digital
Caution: not what he appears to be
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Marina Brilleman, Global IT Manager, British American Tobacco
Warning: Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Ian Hill, Director of Information & Cyber Security, Upp
"This Way Up ↑" for when I've dozed off at a beer festival. Back in the day I could drink copious quantities of beer and it would have little effect. Now, four pints and I just fall asleep (photos of which my kids take great pleasure in posting on social media)."
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Steven Capper, Group CIO, SNC-Lavalin
'Don't poke The Bear' - it's my nickname
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Kris Kupilas, R&D Digital Transformation Lead, ArcelorMittal
Approach with care and do not lie, results can be hazardous. Honesty appreciated.
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Mark Ridley, Director, Ridley Industries
Easily distracted by new stuff
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Jane Deal, IT Director, The Law Society
Seriously accident prone - keep her away from stairs!
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
James Lomas, Group CTO, Bionic
Socially awkward - proceed with caution ⚠
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Richard Corbridge, CIO, Boots UK & Ireland
Keep hydrated wherever possible. If not possible, chocolate consumption will go up.
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
James Packer, Head of Information Security, EF Education First
'Warning: Fan of cheesy new sear security themes' - Next year is the Year of the DLP in my company!
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Juan Villamil, CIO, Imperial College London
Cuidado! Attention, I am still dangerous around tech!
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Lesley Salmon, Global CIO, Kellog Company
This person is known to be curious, dream big and move fast - has zero tolerance for exclusion.
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Tom Clark, CTO, Ardonagh Advisory
Does not tolerate lack of ownership
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
John Sullivan, CIO, Great British Railways
Don't buy me too many JDs in the evening
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Nick Hodder, Assistant Director of Digital Transformation, Imperial War Museums
Side effects include: Over quoting Peter Drucker, being too easily distracted and alcohol dependence
'Do not expose to sunshine': IT Leaders share their warning labels
The essentials you need to know before approaching the UK's most influential IT leaders
Charles Ewen, CIO, The Met Office
Beware, he thinks with his mouth open