Google is the world’s most visited website and most valuable brand. Beginning its life as a mere search engine, the company has grown into an IT conglomerate that dominates every available online space. Founded in 1998, the company has blossomed into a tech pioneer in research and development, innovation, and mergers and acquisitions. As it has grown increasingly pervasive, Google has faced a backlash regarding issues such as privacy concerns, tax avoidance, antitrust, censorship and search neutrality. It’s now difficult to imagine a world without Google and its products. So what makes this technological giant tick?