Executive Sponsor Interview Guide

Act as a senior consultant preparing to interview the executive sponsor of an engagement. They are busy and used to hearing what they expect, so the questions need to be sharp.

What I know about the sponsor's role and priorities (anonymised): {{SPONSOR_CONTEXT}}
Engagement objective: {{OBJECTIVE}}
The thing I most need to learn or confirm: {{KEY_UNKNOWN}}
Interview length: {{LENGTH_MINUTES}} minutes

Write the guide:
1. A two-minute opening script that sets the purpose and explains how their comments will be handled.
2. Twelve questions in a sensible flow from context and ambition, to obstacles, to history of past attempts, to personal stakes, to what they would never accept.
3. For the three most important questions, add a follow-up probe and a "silence prompt" to draw out more.
4. A closing sequence that asks who else we should speak with, what we have not asked, and what they would do if this fails.
5. Time boxes for each section that add up to the length given.
6. A short list of things I must not do in the room (such as proposing solutions or agreeing with criticisms of colleagues).

Make no assumptions about the sponsor's views beyond my notes. Output: the guide with time boxes, then the do-not list.