As someone also interested in academia, I have thoughts about being a successful professor. I believe a successful professor should have prior experience outside of academia in their respective field, as well as some experience in academia in the same field. Ultimately, I think that as professors are not just instructing future academics, but they are also instructing future industry professionals, engineers, managers, and so on. Thus, I believe professors should gain some experience outside of academia in their field, such as working in industry for a few years or as a consultant while they are professors, to bring in external experience and perspective into their courses. Additionally, they should have experience in academia, demonstrated through research outcomes/grants/related entrepreneurial ventures, as this lends credibility in the academic landscape. However, a topic to consider is time. Is it conducive for people interested in academia from the get-go to spend time in industry first?

I believe that a successful professor should have some experience in industry, however successful can be defined by different definitions. For a professor who puts measures success by their teaching effectiveness, gaining industry experience prior to becoming a professor can help significantly. Bringing experience from industry and incorporating it into a course brings benefits which may not be directly learned by going through the material. Teaching students about problems in industry or informing students about things which may be overlooked can bring immeasurable benefits. For a professor who measures success by their research, industry experience feel like a waste of time for them. Some professors may not be willing to spend a year or two working in a company with fast-paced deadlines when they can continue their research right away. It all depends on the weight a professor puts on both teaching and research on the definition of success.