Halla was raised in Kópavogur, Iceland, and has ancestry from Skagafjörður and Vestfjörður. She has a degree in international business and economy. Halla started her career in the United States with companies such as the chocolate manufacturer Mars and the soft drink company Pepsi Cola. She returned home to Iceland after a ten-year stay and soon became part of the group forming and establishing the University of Reykjavík. At the University of Reykjavik, Halla founded and led the Open University and initiated and fostered the project “Auður í krafti kvenna”, an initiative focusing on empowering women.
Halla has always been passionate about leadership and entrepreneurship and has taught thousands of students of all ages over the years. In the spring of 2006, Halla became the executive director of Iceland’s Chamber of Commerce, the first woman to hold that position. A year later, Halla together with Kristín Pétursdóttir founded the financial company Auður Capital. The Company focused on responsible investments, generating profits based on good values. Auður Capital and its customers went through the economic collapse in 2008 unscathed. Following the economic crisis, Halla was part of the group Mauraþúfan, which was an initiative that held a National Assembly in in Iceland in 2009. This National Assembly consisted of random sample of the nation which worked together on the nation's vision and values.
For the past six years, Halla has worked as the CEO of B Team. As the CEO of B Team Halla has been working with global leaders, both in the corporate setting as well as leaders of internationally recognized NGO’s advocating for transparency in business, with particular focus on business ethics, sustainability, and equality. Halla is a well-known international speaker who has appeared on the TED stage four times and lectured for the world's largest companies.
Halla is married to Björn Skúlason. Björn is raised in Grindavík and has ancestry in northern, eastern, and southern part of Iceland. Björn played soccer alongside his studies in the United States and later, finished a master’s degree in management physiology in the UK. For many years Björn worked in the insurance and finance industry, but later changed careers and studied to be a health-Chef. Today, Björn runs his own business, Just Björn, manufacturing and selling Nordic health supplements. Halla and Björn have two kids, both University students in New York. Tómas Bjartur is studying business and playing soccer and Auður Ína is a psychology major.
Halla’s mother is Kristjana Sigurðardóttir, a developmental therapist and one of 10 siblings. Kristjana grew up in Djúpavík in the west fjords, where her grandfather, Sigurður Pétursson, was a fisherman and her grandmother, Ína Jensen, provided telephone service.
Halla’s father passed away in the fall of 2008. His name was Tómas Þórhallsson and he was a plumber who ran his own business and finished his career working at the elder care home Sunnuhlíð in Kópavogur. He was born in Skagafjordur and lived at Hof in Hjaltadalur. He lost his parents at a young age and was then fostered in Kolkuós. Later he worked in Borgarfjörður before he moved to Reykjavik where he met Halla’s mother. Halla has two sisters who are pre-school teachers.
