We recently had the privilege of interviewing Cindy Van Pollaert, Happiness Manager, Crew Operations Leader, and Opportunities Manager at 555 Global Live Experience. Passionate about her work at 555, Cindy has garnered over three decades of hands-on experience from scratch, working across industries, spanning from management to politics. As an international award-winning agency, offering exceptional sports and music encounters, 555 offers the best live experience leveraging the latest innovation available. Cindy even leads the Happiness program, a specialty of 555, offering superfans unforgettable experiences for life.
Alongside her position at 555, Cindy is the Founder of an art project, ‘Min Alqalb,’ a platform aimed to bridge the cultural gap between the GCC region and the world, through art and storytelling. With her years of expertise, Cindy Van Pollaert, a multi-skilled leader, is always committed to turning every project into a success.
Spark Behind the Journey
We started the session by asking, “Reflecting on your journey, what inspired you to start in your current industry, and what was a defining moment early in your career?”
Cindy Van Pollaert shared, “I’ve never followed the traditional path. I don’t have a higher education degree. Everything I’ve learned, from planning to people skills, has come from doing the work from scratch across different industries. I was a travel agent for years, then a management assistant, worked in HR, PR, and Sales, and then ended up in politics working at the Flemish Parliament in Belgium. All different worlds, but every role taught me how to organize chaos, read between the lines, and support people under pressure.
The defining moment came not when I found a job title that fit me, but when I realized I didn’t need one. When I joined 555 Global Live Experience, I brought my full toolkit, logistics from travel, diplomacy from politics, and emotional intuition from life itself. And I realized that my role as Happiness Manager wasn’t empty talk, it was strategy, soul, and presence rolled into one.
Today, I help create live events that move people emotionally, visually, and energetically. From Formula 1 to governmental ceremonies, we produce moments that connect audiences, cultures, and communities. And it all started with a simple principle: say yes, even before you fully understand the assignment.”
Navigating through Challenges
Challenges are an inevitable part of every career path. To learn more about the challenges Cindy Van Pollaert faced throughout her career and how she overcame the phases, we asked her to share her experience.
“Feeling underestimated, and sometimes, underqualified, because I don’t have a formal degree was definitely a major challenge. But I learned to see it differently, not as a gap, but as a gift. My knowledge comes from the ground, not the classroom, so I built everything step by step through real-life problem-solving.
Another challenge is more of an emotional aspect. Whenever I see people being disrespected, especially our crew, I take it quite personally. I don’t always manage to stay calm when someone who’s been working for days in the heat gets brushed off or spoken to unfairly. I’m learning to channel that energy constructively, but I’ll always protect the people who give their all.
At 555, we work across cultures and high-pressure timelines. I overcome challenges by staying close to people, listening deeply, and acting quickly, whether it’s a logistics crisis or a moment of emotional misalignment. That’s where my strength lies,” she explained.
Evolving Trends of the Industry
Given the rapid evolution in industry, we asked Cindy Van Pollaert to share some major trends of the future, and how 555 Global Live Experience is preparing for them.
Cindy Van Pollaert mentioned, “The biggest shift I see is toward emotional impact. People want to feel seen, they want to be part of something, not just watch it. At 555 Global Live Experience, we’re already operating in that future. We create live productions where emotion leads, from fan activations to immersive national ceremonies.
Our Happiness Program brings in genuine surprise, human connection, and crew care that goes beyond the show schedule. We’re not just producers, we’re memory makers. We’re also embracing tech and AI, which serves our people for real-time feedback, crew scheduling, and guest journey optimization. But we never let tech replace the human essence. Our events are built on instinct, rhythm, and deep presence, not algorithms.
Personally, I see the same emotional need reflected in my art project ‘Min Alqalb,’ where I celebrate the individuality and strength of Middle Eastern women through hand-drawn stories. It’s the same principle: people want to feel, to be acknowledged, and to belong.”
Envisioning the Future
We further asked, “Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your company, and what strategies are you considering to achieve them?”
“I want 555 to continue leading with purpose, not just across Belgium, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, but globally. We already produce large-scale experiences that move fans and communities, and our next chapter is about going deeper, not just bigger. I want to see more collaborations with local performers, more Saudi and Emirati talent on our stages, and more representation both in front and behind the scenes.
My personal aspiration is to grow Min Alqalb into a global cultural platform. The idea came from my own experience of seeing how misrepresented the Middle East often is in Western media. Through art and storytelling, I want to change that narrative, one story, one drawing, one conversation at a time. The strategy for both the aspirations is to listen first, connect deeply, show up with heart, and build a team that’s emotionally committed, not just contractually attached,” Cindy shared.
Redefining the Business Landscape: Embracing AI
AI and emerging technologies are transforming businesses. Interested to understand more about her approach to implementing AI in her business, we inquired, “How do you see these changes affecting your industry, and how is your company adapting?”
Cindy Van Pollaert stated, “AI helps us work smarter and we embrace that. At 555, we use it to manage crew flows, predict engagement peaks, and optimize experiences. But we never lose sight of the heartbeat behind the data.
Because AI can’t spot when someone on the crew is overwhelmed. It can’t feel the electricity in a fan zone nor can it sense the quiet pride in a cultural performance. That’s what I do and what my team does, in fact, that’s where human instinct still leads. And I bring that same energy into Min Alqalb. The stories I tell through art aren’t generated; they’re felt, inspired by conversations, eye contact, and moments that don’t fit into code. That’s where the real transformation lives.”
Guiding Values at 555
Intrigued to learn more about the values that guide Cindy’s businesses, we posed the question, “What guiding principles or core values have you consistently relied on to drive your company’s success?”
Cindy Van Pollaert replied, “Curiosity got me here, and what keeps me learning, alongside being empathetic fuels me, especially in multicultural, high-pressure settings. Moreover, I take pride in being loyal to my team and will always stand with and up for our crew. I also ensure being constantly present for the team, and sharing because even in chaos, we deserve to feel alive.
These aren’t buzzwords, they’re daily decisions. At 555, we embed them in every project, whether we’re executing a stadium-size ceremony or a last-minute high-level technical briefing. We’re about people first, plans second, and that’s why our work resonates. And the same values live inside Min Alqalb. It’s all from the heart, literally. Every color, every phrase, every portrait is a celebration of human dignity and connection.”
Innovative Solutions for Success
We further urged Cindy Van Pollaert to share an innovative strategy or approach that has recently helped her company stand out in a competitive market.
Cindy Van Pollaert responded, “We don’t just run events. We create emotional ecosystems. Our Happiness Program has become one of the defining aspects of 555’s success. It focuses on real people, real feelings, and real magic, from crew members working 20 hours/day in containers who wake up to personal notes, to fans who experience moments that stay with them for life. We’ve had people cry, hug us, and tell us – I’ll never forget this. That’s the ROI we care about.
We also bring emotional design into the logistics side: a fairy-lit crew tent here, a mental check-in moment there. These things don’t cost much, but they mean everything. It happens we get the comment from a client on-site that we care too much for the crew and that we spoil them with good hotels and delicious catering. I call that respect.
Innovation at 555 isn’t about being the loudest; in my opinion, it’s about being the most human.”
Evolving as a Leader: Cindy Van Pollaert’s Experience
We ended the session with the question, “How has your leadership philosophy evolved over the years, particularly in light of the technological advancements and disruptions in your industry?”
“I used to think leadership meant having it all together. Now I know it means being fully present, especially when things get messy. I’m still emotional, and lose my cool sometimes when I see injustice or disrespect, especially toward the people who work the hardest. But I’ve also learned how to transform that energy into protection, advocacy, and care.
At 555, I work alongside my husband, Marc, who’s the CEO. We balance each other. He holds the vision and long-term structure. I hold the heartbeat of the crew, the flow of the moment, and the human temperature of the project. Together, we create something beautiful, not perfect, but real.
And that’s the same energy I carry into Min Alqalb. My goal isn’t to lead with perfection. It’s to lead with connection,” Cindy reflected.
Follow Cindy Van Pollaert on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Find 555 Global Live Experience on Instagram and visit their website https://555liveexperience.com/.
Find Min Alqalb on Instagram.
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