Cédric Villani is a celebrated French mathematician awarded the Fields Medal, mathematics' highest honor (often compared to the Nobel Prize) in 2010. For him, math is not a solo intellectual pursuit, but a deeply connected approach to understanding and engaging with the world. “It's very social activity," he says. "You constantly seek inspiration in discussions and encounters and randomness and chance." It is necessary to have both an “intense interior life” in which there is space for deep reflection as well as time in community. Called the “Lady Gaga of French mathematicians" by The New Yorker for his sartorial flair, he has authored several bestsellers that delve into the beauty and impact of mathematics. His TED Talk, “What’s So Sexy About Math?” quickly garnered over a million views. His pathbreaking work not only solves equations to explain the world, but brings its hidden beauty to light in everyday encounters.