The article explores how the emotions and behaviors of innovation champions affect the success of innovation in organizations. It found that champions don't always lead to successful outcomes because their role is often oversimplified. The study looked at interviews with twenty innovation champions in African countries in the financial services industry. It showed that a champion's emotional experiences and behaviors play a big role in how successful they are at promoting innovation. The research highlights the complexity of being an innovation champion and suggests that more attention should be paid to understanding their role and how it impacts innovation outcomes.