December 4, 2025
Since joining GCI Health in 2020, Kianta Key’s ascent to her current role as Group Senior Vice President, Head of Cultural Communications, has been meteoric. Widely recognized as a leading voice for guiding healthcare companies on how to authentically and effectively connect with diverse audiences, Kianta now adds another distinction to her resume as an MM+M 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 Honoree. This prestigious accolade celebrates her remarkable contributions to healthcare communications and her unwavering commitment to accelerating equity.
Driven by a purpose to improve health outcomes for marginalized communities, Kianta has filled critical market gaps through the creation of innovative communications strategies and frameworks. She pioneered Identity Experience (IX), a proprietary tool that seamlessly embeds cultural identity layers into digital communications. As a result, her leadership in applying cultural communications expertise to clinical trial work has significantly increased representative participation in health research.
This work culminated in her industry-defining research, “Layered: A Report on Black Women’s Perceptions of Clinical Trials.” Challenging existing hypotheses, the study provided a data-backed blueprint for authentic engagement. Building on this success, Kianta now leads GCI Health’s new Cultural Communications offering, ensuring that culturally relevant and resonant engagements are integrated into our work across the agency.
“At GCI Health, Kianta is a force of empathy and action dedicated to improving people’s health and well-being,” says Kristin Cahill, Global CEO. “She truly embodies the spirit of MM+M’s 40 Under 40 as a health-focused innovator who centers the human experience in her work. Her talent and passion provide the agency with a more sophisticated and inclusive POV on digital engagement, closing the gap in health disparities.”
See the full list of MM+M 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 Honorees here.