The Excellence Diploma is a rigorous twelve-month program designed by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)-the professional body for advertising, media, and marketing communications agencies in the UK-for practitioners fascinated by brands. It is their most prestigious qualification and is known as the "MBA of brands." The culmination of the course is a 5,000-7,000 word essay that focuses on the future of brands and brand communications.

What is a 21st Century Brand? is not just a collection of the best essays from the last ten years (since the beginning of the...