Each month, we profile a Connecticut small business, showcasing the ingenuity and innovation driving the state’s economy. For February, we spoke with Krista Murphy, founder of The People Path in Glastonbury.
When was your company founded?
2024
How many employees work for your company?
Currently, The People Path is a solo practice. I personally work with each client to provide tailored solutions in leadership development, HR strategy, and cultural alignment.
With decades of experience at the executive level in both operations and HR, I understand the challenges leaders face in building strong teams and creating a thriving workplace culture.
While it’s technically just me, I work closely with benefits professionals, marketing experts, safety specialists, and financial advisors—trusted industry professionals I collaborate with—to help round out my clients’ needs.
This allows me to provide comprehensive, well-rounded solutions that support both leaders and organizations in building workplaces where people feel valued, engaged, and set up for success.
Who are your customers?
I work with businesses of all sizes, from 10 employees to 2,500, including private equity firms, small businesses, and organizations navigating major transitions—specializing in a post-merger and acquisition environment.
Many businesses undergoing change struggle with leadership alignment, cultural integration, and operational transitions.
I partner with these organizations to ensure their leadership teams are equipped to navigate these shifts successfully.
I partner with these organizations to ensure their leadership teams are equipped to navigate these shifts successfully.
My expertise in people strategy, HR transformation, and leadership development helps organizations bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring smooth transitions and engaged, high-performing teams.
Whether a company is building its first HR foundation, aligning leadership after an acquisition, or strengthening its workplace culture, I provide tailored solutions to support growth, stability, and long-term success.
What makes your company unique?
I bring a people-focused, business-driven approach to leadership and HR strategy. Before I transitioned into HR, I spent a decade leading operations at the executive level.
I’ve managed teams, driven productivity, and balanced the realities of business growth with workforce needs. This experience gives me a unique perspective that most traditional HR professionals don’t have.
I understand that not all HR policies and best practices work for every organization. Too often, HR initiatives fail because they are misaligned with how work actually gets done. That’s where I come in.
Too often, HR initiatives fail because they are misaligned with how work actually gets done.
I don’t just implement policies—I ensure they are practical, effective, and aligned with both leadership goals and workforce realities.
My approach is business-minded but always people-first. I help organizations build leadership alignment, cultural cohesion, and HR strategies that truly support productivity and growth—not just compliance checkboxes.
Whether it’s a small business, or a large company navigating a post-M&A transition, I bring practical, results-oriented solutions that strengthen both leadership and operational success.
At The People Path, I don’t believe in HR for HR’s sake—I believe in HR that works for your people and your business. That’s what makes me different.
What is a fun fact about your business or its history?
My journey to founding The People Path started in operations, not HR. I spent years leading teams and running business functions, but what I loved most—what truly lit me up—was developing leaders.
I realized that leadership development was the key to both business success and workplace culture, and that’s what ultimately drove me to transition into HR.
I’m a trusted advisor—a secret weapon—helping leaders grow, align their teams, and create workplaces where people thrive.
Even in internal HR, I often saw leaders hesitate to ask for help because they feared judgment. That’s why, when I started The People Path, my goal wasn’t just to provide HR support—it was to be a true leadership partner.
I don’t act as an enforcer of policies or a compliance watchdog. Instead, I’m a trusted advisor—a secret weapon—helping leaders grow, align their teams, and create workplaces where people thrive.
Going into business for myself has allowed me to fully focus on what I love most: empowering leaders to step into their full potential—without fear, without judgment, and with real, actionable strategies that work in practice, not just on paper.
Why did you choose Connecticut?
Connecticut is home. I moved back six years ago to start my family, knowing I wanted to be close to my roots and the people who matter most.
What is the greatest advantage to operating in Connecticut?
Connecticut offers a rich business landscape with a strong mix of small businesses, privately held companies, and corporate headquarters, making it a dynamic place for HR and leadership development.
One of the greatest advantages of operating here is access to a highly skilled and educated workforce, which allows businesses to attract top talent and develop strong leadership teams.
One of the greatest advantages of operating here is access to a highly skilled and educated workforce.
Additionally, Connecticut’s employment laws and compliance standards—while complex—create an opportunity for businesses to establish robust HR frameworks that protect both employees and employers.
For companies that invest in their people strategy, this means they can build high-performing, engaged teams while staying ahead of regulatory challenges.
For me, as an HR and leadership consultant, the greatest advantage is being able to help Connecticut businesses navigate these challenges strategically—ensuring that HR is not just a function, but a driver of growth, retention, and long-term success.
How do you try to give back to your community?
I believe strong leadership and thriving workplaces create stronger communities, and I’m committed to giving back by sharing my expertise in HR and leadership development.
I am an actively involved member of HRACC, our local SHRM chapter, where I serve on the DEI committee.
Where do you see your company in five years? Ten years?
In five years, I see The People Path firmly established as a go-to HR and leadership advisory firm, known for helping businesses navigate people strategy, leadership alignment, and post-M&A transitions.
My focus will remain on high-touch, personalized consulting, where I work directly with business owners, executives, and leadership teams to develop practical, people-first HR strategies that align with business goals.
As a singular consultant, I want to continue making a significant impact by being an important voice in the HR space, offering thought leadership, training, and executive coaching that helps businesses build strong cultures and effective leadership teams.
I will deepen my involvement in SHRM, Chamber of Commerce, and CBIA initiatives, furthering my contributions to DEI, workforce empowerment, and leadership coaching at a broader level.
I want to continue making a significant impact by being an important voice in the HR space.
In 10 years, I see The People Path expanding beyond one-on-one consulting to include leadership development programs, keynote speaking engagements, and published thought leadership on HR strategy, leadership transformation, and the intersection of operations and HR.
I want to be recognized as a trusted advisor and thought leader who brings a real-world, business-minded approach to HR—one that is rooted in leadership development and organizational alignment rather than just compliance and policies.
Ultimately, my goal is not to build a large firm, but to remain a sought-after expert in the field, someone businesses turn to when they need a strategic partner in HR and leadership development.
The People Path isn’t about scaling up—it’s about scaling impact, ensuring leaders and businesses have the tools, knowledge, and support to create workplaces where people thrive and organizations succeed.
What is the main thing policymakers could implement to make your company more competitive?
One of the biggest challenges for businesses in Connecticut—especially small businesses—is the complex and ever-evolving regulatory landscape.
As an HR consultant and leadership advisor, I work with businesses that struggle to keep up with compliance requirements, employment laws, and workplace regulations, which often shift with little notice and create an administrative burden.
To make The People Path and other HR service providers more competitive, policymakers could focus on greater transparency, streamlined compliance processes, and stronger support for small businesses. Specifically, implementing:
- Tax/financial incentives for Connecticut businesses that invest in leadership coaching, and DEI initiatives recognizing the long-term economic benefits of strong leadership and a well-trained workforce.
- More predictable and business-friendly employment regulations. Changes to wage, leave, and employment laws create confusion and administrative challenges. Providing longer implementation timelines and better education for business owners would help companies stay compliant without disruption.
By making HR compliance, leadership development, and DEI investment more accessible and sustainable, policymakers could help small businesses thrive, retain top talent, and drive economic growth—all while making Connecticut a more attractive place for business.