The key word here is "Lead". I believe (metaphorically) that, in matters of sight, the blind cannot truly lead the sighted. Yes, someone may be able to "lead" a camping trip for scouts to the local campground without event, but that is a far different skill set than leading an expedition to climb Mt. Everest.
I believe that the analogy holds true. Yes, a non-technical "leader" can manage a group of technical folks to deliver something that is pre-existing, something that has a clear path to completion which if you follow, you will be successful. Civil projects are a great example of this. Repaving a road for example.
Now onto what I've worked on my entire career - highly complex engineering driven technical projects - "cutting edge". I have worked for both types of leader in this environment. I have never seen the non-technical leader be successful, nor the project being directed by the non-technical leader be successful. To make the right decisions the leader needs to be able to intimately understand all the trade offs (technical included) involved to be able to lead the project to success. If this person doesn't personally have the knowledge, understanding, wisdom or ability to seek such out to understand these fundamental trade offs they are required to rely on the information they are given, to rely on trusting the folks telling you things. This is difficult because on the most challenging projects there are always different opinions and the leader must find the thread of truth between them.
This is why Mr. Musk has been so successful with Tesla and SpaceX - he intimately understands what he is making at the most technical level - and is passionate about it.
I believe that the analogy holds true. Yes, a non-technical "leader" can manage a group of technical folks to deliver something that is pre-existing, something that has a clear path to completion which if you follow, you will be successful. Civil projects are a great example of this. Repaving a road for example.
Now onto what I've worked on my entire career - highly complex engineering driven technical projects - "cutting edge". I have worked for both types of leader in this environment. I have never seen the non-technical leader be successful, nor the project being directed by the non-technical leader be successful. To make the right decisions the leader needs to be able to intimately understand all the trade offs (technical included) involved to be able to lead the project to success. If this person doesn't personally have the knowledge, understanding, wisdom or ability to seek such out to understand these fundamental trade offs they are required to rely on the information they are given, to rely on trusting the folks telling you things. This is difficult because on the most challenging projects there are always different opinions and the leader must find the thread of truth between them.
This is why Mr. Musk has been so successful with Tesla and SpaceX - he intimately understands what he is making at the most technical level - and is passionate about it.