Career planning and management play an instrumental role in becoming an academic dean and succeeding in this mission-critical role within contemporary higher education. This must begin with properly understanding the roles and responsibilities of contemporary academic deans and how they align with one’s professional qualifications, interests, and aspirations. Success as an academic dean involves making a commitment to continuous learning in the interest of maintaining one’s qualifications to continue to effectively serve their institution and its various stakeholders with distinction and ensure its continued present and future success. The management skills that will serve an academic dean and their institution well throughout their career, similarly enable planning, pursuing, and enacting a successful and respected career as an academic dean.