This paper summarizes the results of a qualitative study focused on the career shifts of professionals who previously worked in non-academic organizations and transitioned into academic careers. It explores the factors that influence the decision of professionals to reinvent themselves as career academics as well as their level of satisfaction with their career shifts. The paper provides the results of a survey that was conducted with 336 survey respondents coming from an online university, an on-ground state university, a community college and a LinkedIn group focused on education. The results of the survey indicate that 90% of the respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their new academic career and the reasons for their career changes are detailed. Gaining an understanding of why professionals decide to transition to academia and their satisfaction with their transition will be useful for talent acquisition and retention in higher education organizations as well as being helpful for those professionals who are considering making the transition to academia.