Not too bad of an episode on CNBC last night...with the obvious exception being Mel Kamarzin.  Mel double-talked his way through comments like "I don't tolerate risk" and "If someone takes a risk, we don't punish people for that."  Mel may know a good business bet when he sees one, but he clearly isn't part of the dirty machinery that makes innovation really happen. 

I understand that CNBC gets a boost by having Fortune 500 CEOs and Chairpersons on the show, but this is what bothered me about last year's "Business of Innovation" series...too much top leadership and too little of the people that go forth and actually make innovation happen.

Innovation needs strong leaders who understand the benefits of risk, set the tone for an organizational innovation culture, provide resources (financial, human and time) and set the organizational agenda/mission.  And while you see that demonstrated via the many C-Level leaders on this program, very little time is spent on the "how" or the "who" of getting the innovations actually out the door.

Yeah, I am picky because I am intimately close to the systems and dynamics of innovation management, and I am probably overly sensitive to the buzzwords being bantered about.  The audience of programs like this are business leaders and management-types who are looking for ways to make innovation real for their organizations...and again, I think they are left wanting more.

Still, lots of great points last night and I encourage you to watch it either online or during the regular CNBC broadcast.