The Creative Boom Podcast From Twitter to Ramps & Resilience: Haraldur Thorleifsson on Building with Kindness
Oct 19, 2025
Haraldur 'Halli' Thorleifsson, a designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, shares his journey from co-founding the Ueno agency to founding Ramp Up Reykjavik, which builds wheelchair ramps for accessibility. He discusses how personal loss and living with muscular dystrophy have fueled his compassion and creativity. Halli emphasizes the importance of leading with kindness, confronting addiction, and finding purpose in his work. Their chat touches on resilience, the impact of small accessibility fixes, and the value of lifelong friendships.
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Kindness Rooted In Shared Hardship
- Hard personal experiences can cultivate sustained empathy and kindness.
- Halli says pain and loss gave him a deeper sense of shared humanity that guides his life.
Replace Harm With Healthier Habits
- Stop harmful coping mechanisms and replace them with healthier routines like work or purpose.
- Halli cites quitting drinking as a major turning point that required daily choice toward peace.
Use Purpose To Escape Self-Focus
- Find a purpose that takes you outside yourself to stabilize mental health and motivation.
- Halli argues giving back and purpose help you survive dark periods and stay motivated.