This study explores the determinants of career success among academics at a private university, focusing on personality traits based on the Big Five Personality Traits. The problem occurs due to a limited understanding of how personality factors influence career success in the context of private higher education, where academics’ career development is often overshadowed by institutional priorities, such as standardisation emphasis, centralised decision making, profitability and resource constraints. This gap creates challenges for human resource development strategies and hinders the ability to create supportive environments for academics’ growth. Specifically, the research investigates the impact of extroversion and conscientiousness on academics’ career achievements. The study employs a proportionate random sampling method to select 100 academics, with data collected through an online survey via Google Forms. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used to analyse the relationship between personality factors and career success. Findings reveal that both conscientiousness and extroversion significantly influence the career success of academics at a private university. However, the study is limited in scope, as the results are specific to academics in a private university and cannot be generalised to other institutions. The results also do not represent other sectors, such as finance, art or technical fields, whether in government or private institutions. The respondent pool is restricted to lecturers, which further limits its applicability across broader professional contexts. This research offers a theoretical framework to better understand the dynamics of academic career development in private higher education, enriching human resource development practices and strategies. It provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners into addressing issues related to career growth, strategic planning, and academic development in private universities.