As Google's director of search quality and research (a doozy of a job description), Norvig spurs on 140 scientists and engineers racing to add more depth, speed and relevance to the world's best search engine.

FORBES: The Machinist

Ms Whitten was appointed as the search giant's first privacy director in 2010, following a series of mistakes by Google that had led to user data being exposed.

BBC: European data watchdogs target Google over privacy

When on-stage interviewer Torrence Boone, a Google managing director, casually mentioned that their discussion would be replayed on the Internet, Morrison sounded as if caught in the act.

WSJ: Toni Morrison talks to Google about creativity