If you slightly shift your perspective and think backwards from "what does it take to get _products to market_" then the the question of management track vs. IC track goes away completely.
It would be impossible to pull off creating _any_ product, say an iPhone, unless you're willing to manage people at _some level_.
Most of the folks who drive innovations today have some form of management experience. They could end up _promoting_ themselves to being ICs again or stick to being managers. Some managers at big tech co.'s have come via acquisitions. Some others are ones who've been around long enough at places like Google or Apple and are capable of venturing out on their own. Examples abound: Tailscale, Humane etc etc.
It would be impossible to pull off creating _any_ product, say an iPhone, unless you're willing to manage people at _some level_.
Most of the folks who drive innovations today have some form of management experience. They could end up _promoting_ themselves to being ICs again or stick to being managers. Some managers at big tech co.'s have come via acquisitions. Some others are ones who've been around long enough at places like Google or Apple and are capable of venturing out on their own. Examples abound: Tailscale, Humane etc etc.