This paper begins by considering the challenges and opportunities facing academy-owned, not-for-profit journals. The paper goes on to reflect on the mission, ambition and purpose of academy-owned journals by presenting a case study of the relationship between the Irish Academy of Management (IAM) and the Irish Journal of Management (IJM), tracking the journey over nearly three decades, from 1996 to 2025. Drawing on a celebratory session of the IJM at the IAM Conference 2025, where the evolution of both the academy and journal was discussed, this paper captures the origins of the IAM as remembered by its founders. Supplemented by historical documents and insights from IJM editors and past Chairs of the IAM, this paper chronicles the road travelled through the academy and journal relationship, from the initial discussions that led to the evolution of the IJM, and through to the present day. As IJM publishes its final edition in 2025, this paper concludes by reflecting on the future for academy-owned journals in a rapidly changing publication landscape.