My name is Haraldur Ingi Þorleifsson (in English I use Thorleifsson). But most people just call me Halli. It’s pronounced sort of like Hallie Berry (without the Berry part) .
I mostly live in Reykjavík, Iceland, with my wife Margrét Eddudóttir, our two children and our two cats. My parents were my mother Anna Jóna Jónsdóttir, artist and clothing designer, and father Þorleifur Gunnlaugsson, construction worker and activist. My mom died when I was young, my dad is retired.
I have a genetic disease called Dysferlinopathy, a type of muscular dystrophy, and for the last 20 years, I’ve used a wheelchair.
I like making things.
Photos : Work : CV : Awards : In the press : Interviews
Photos
Work
Ueno
Innovation agency I founded and sold to Twitter.
Ramp Up
Non-profit I founded to improve accessibility.
Anna Jóna
Restaurant + bar + cinema I created.
Hafnar.haus
Non-profit community I founded for creative people in Iceland.
Önnu Jónu Son
I write and record music + produce videos for each song
Let’s Walk
A podcast where I interview creative people from multiple fields.
Acting
I sometimes act in and write for movies and TV shows.
Keynote speaker
Information and examples of some of my past speaking engagements.
Indó
A new bank I’m a lead investor in + branded and built products for.
Reykjavík Orkestra
A recording studio I co-own that works with leading entertainment companies.
Labbitúr
A podcast where I interview creative people in Icelandic.
CV
Education
››› Majored in Physics (Hamrahlíð High School)
››› B.A. Philosophy (University of Iceland)
››› B.S. Finance (University of Iceland)
››› M.S. Economics (University of Iceland). Dissertation not finished.
Work
’08 - ‘14 : Executive Creative Director : Google, Square, Apple and more
’14 - ‘21 : Founder and CEO Ueno
’21 - ‘23 : Founder and team leader Twitter Innovation
’23 - Present : Entrepreneur
Awards
Personal
››› The Presidential Order of the Falcon
››› Person of the year
››› Business person of the year
››› Disability advocate of the year
››› The Freedom award
››› LoveBall award
››› Webby awards (4 total)
››› FWA awards (4 total)
››› Awwwards (5 total)
››› Reykjavik accessibility award
››› Icelandic human rights award
Organizational
››› AdAge best places to work
››› Inc. 5000
››› Webby awards (9 total)
››› FWA awards (13 total)
››› Awwwards (35 total)
››› RedDot award (4 total)
››› D&AD awards (6 total)
››› Eater award
In the press
“Let’s Walk” with Halli: A Podcast Designed to Spark Creativity—One Conversation at a Time
What happens when you take creativity outside, strip away the scripts, and let the world set the pace?
Iceland built 1,756 wheelchair ramps in the past 4 years. Why can’t other countries do that?
‘It’s easy. It’s cheap. There’s no excuse.’
››› Fast Company : March 31st 2025
Iceland To Build Its First Fully Accessible Public Hot Tub
‘Iceland is set to build its first fully accessible public hot tub, thanks to entrepreneur Haraldur Þorleifsson and his Ramp Up initiative.’
››› Grapevine : December 13th 2024
Halli Once Again Highest-Earning Icelander
‘Tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Halli, was once again named as the highest-earning Icelander.’
››› Iceland Review : August 20th 2024
Track By Track: The Radio Won’t Let Me Sleep By Önnu Jónu Son
‘The haunting release sees the artist explore feelings of happiness, grief, freedom and loss.’
It Took Decades And Other Careers Before Icelandic Musician Recorded His Songs
‘Önnu Jónu Son released an album partly written during a period of loss and addiction, and partly during his search for happiness.’
Haraldur Wins The LoveBall
‘Haraldur has been involved in many areas of society, as an entrepreneur, businessman, designer, musician, and philanthropist.’
››› MBL (Icelandic) : December 6th 2023
President Raises Goal to 1,500 Ramps
‘President of Iceland raised the target goal of Ramp Up Iceland at a press event for the organization this Monday, from 1,000 new ramps to 1,500.’
››› Iceland Review : November 23rd 2023
The Highest Earner In Iceland
‘Haraldur has been involved in many areas of society, as an entrepreneur, businessman, designer, musician, and philanthropist.’
››› Iceland Monitor : August 17th 2023
Önnu Jónu Son: An Icelandic musical gem, weaving haunting melodies and ethereal landscapes into art
‘An artist who beautifully weaves his personal experiences into an otherworldly tapestry of music, leaving an indelible imprint on the sonic frontier.’
››› Happy Mag : August 2nd 2023
Ramp Up Expands To Europe
‘Our first partner will be the wonderful city of Paris with more to come. Can’t wait to bring this show on the road.’
››› Grapevine : June 28th 2023
Haraldur To Play In Warner Bros film
"Next week I'm filming a Warner Bros. movie. Life is strange," Haraldur says in the post.’
››› Visir (Icelandic) : April 14th 2023
One Man Is Increasing Wheelchair Accessibility in Iceland a Ramp at a Time
‘Within eight months, the fund worked with sponsors, workers, and the city to build 100 wheelchair ramps with a promise of at least 1000 more.’
››› My Modern Met : March 10th 2023
The Employee’s Response Is a Master Class in Emotional Intelligence
‘Halli taught Elon Musk a masterful lesson in how to handle conflict and being falsely accused.’
Halli asks Elon Musk on Twitter: Have I been fired?
‘Mr Thorleifsson told the BBC that nine days after being frozen out of Twitter's accounts he did not know whether he had been fired or not.’
A Moving Opening Gig By Önnu Jónu Son
‘A rugged-looking man being vulnerable on stage: raw and real. The world needs more of this. “It’s the best day of my life,” said Halli and thanked everyone for coming. For us, it was the best way to start the Airwaves.’
››› Grapevine : November 3rd 2022
Ramping Up The Goals
‘I had this illumination. I have missed experiences, much like thousands of people in this country and millions all over the world. I thought it was silly that I could not join my family and fully take part in life.’
››› United Nations : August 3rd 2022
Haraldur Opens Hafnarhaus
‘Haraldur officially announced that it was now possible to apply for a facility for artistic creation.’
››› Reykjavik.is (Icelandic) : July 7th 2022
The Equaliser: Haraldur Þorleifsson On Power, Misinformation, And Leveling The Playing Field
‘Haraldur has made a name for himself in Iceland for his generosity, his convictions, and his consistently putting his money where his mouth is.’
Offers Legal Help For Sex Abuse Survivors
‘So I got the idea to even the playing field, that it would be possible to help these people, if they want help, to get out of these agreements that they regret having made, or even had to make, but still want to tell their stories.’
››› Grapevine : January 22nd 2022
Haraldur Sweeps Person of the Year Awards
‘Halli, however, gladly paid the higher tax rate, having spoken publicly on many occasions about the benefits he has received from the Icelandic social system.’
››› Iceland Review : January 2nd 2022
Awarded The Order of The Falcon
‘Entrepreneur Haraldur Þorleifsson, writer Gerður Kristný and designer Kristín Þorkelsdóttir were among the twelve who were awarded the Icelandic Order of the Falcon at Bessastaðir today.’
››› RÚV (Icelandic) : January 1st 2022
Twitter Acqui-hires Creative Agency Ueno
‘The agency itself was founded by Haraldur Thorleifsson in Reykjavik, Iceland in 2014. Today, it has dozens of employees working in Reykjavik, San Francisco, New York and LA.’
Interviews
English
››› Understanding a creative identity (audio)
››› NPR (audio)
››› Pure Grit (book)
››› Craft and Crew (audio)
››› Pure Grit (book)
››› The Equalizer (written)
››› I shall be released (written)
››› Everything is a beta (audio)
››› Company values done right (audio)
››› Little Trailblazers (book)
Icelandic
››› Harmur milljarðamæringsins (video)
››› Kastljós (video)
››› Dagur í lífi (video)
››› Hönnunarnámskeið (video)
››› Eigin konur (video)
››› VB (written)
››› Snorri Björns (video)