Kindness Over Judgment: Cyndi on Women of the Middle East

In part two of my conversation with Cyndi, we get into Minal Qalb, Arabic for "from the heart," her project illustrating and platforming women across the Middle East. It started with frustration at how mainstream media gets it wrong, and turned into real friendships: with Nouf at the Jeddah F1, with the Rawazi hiking team in Riyadh, with women whose stories never made it past the stereotype.We talk about:- Why an abaya photo made her Belgian friends worry- The name Minal Qalb, and why she chose Arabic before she'd learned the language- Balancing logic and emotion, in marriage and in business- Why she keeps AI out of the conversations that matter most- The one-word, one-smile theory of changing the worldOne idea I keep coming back to: you cannot judge what you have not lived. Curiosity, not comparison, opens the door.Follow us : https://link. kirtana168.com/podcastEpisode highlights1:35 Introducing Cyndi and the Minal Qalb Project5:10 How the project actually started9:50 Meeting Nouf at the Jeddah F117:23 Balancing awareness, logic and emotion26:41 Choosing kindness, every dayCindy Van pollaert is a person who loves from the heart. She is the Happiness Manager at 555 Live Experience, a cultural bridge-builder, and the founder of the storytelling project Min Al Qalb.She blends live events with human connection and storytelling, turning moments into memories across cultures, with a strong focus on the Middle East.Alongside her work in large-scale international events across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the wider region, Cindy created Min Al Qalb (“From the Heart”) as a cultural platform that celebrates inspiring women through illustration, narrative, and shared human experiences. The project aims to bridge cultural gaps and present a more authentic, human view of the Middle East to the rest of the world.Through initiatives and gatherings the project also brings people together offline, encouraging dialogue, connection, and mutual understanding in simple, meaningful ways.Guided by her personal philosophy, “Enjoy the little things,” Cindy believes that lasting impact is created not only through big moments, but through small, heartfelt connections.Follow Cyndi: https://www.instagram.com/vanpollaert