Early Life
Lawrence Edward Page was born on March 26, 1973, in Lansing, Michigan. His parents, Carl Victor Page Sr. and Gloria Page, were both involved in computer science, fostering a tech-rich environment for young Larry. He attended a Montessori school and later graduated from East Lansing High School. Page showed an early interest in technology and created an inkjet printer made of Lego bricks.
Rise to Success
Page pursued computer engineering at the University of Michigan and later at Stanford University. At Stanford, he met Sergey Brin, and together they developed the PageRank algorithm, which would become the foundation of Google. In 1998, Page and Brin co-founded Google, with Page serving as CEO. Under his leadership, Google expanded rapidly, becoming the world's most popular search engine. Later, he served as CEO of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc..
Key Business Strategies
Page's management style emphasized innovation and 'moonshot' thinking, driving Google to create products at least ten times better than competitors. He focused on developing greater autonomy for key divisions and fostering collaboration. He also spearheaded Google's expansion into various services like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Maps. Page advocated a 'zero tolerance for fighting' within Google's teams and prioritized a user-friendly design.
Philanthropy
Page is involved in philanthropic efforts. The Carl Victor Page Memorial Foundation, established by Page and named after his father, has grown significantly. The foundation primarily directs its grants to donor-advised funds (DAFs). Between 2017 and 2021, the foundation awarded over $600 million in grants, mostly to DAFs. It has also supported initiatives like the American Cancer Society and the Shoo the Flu program.