#177: Eric Schleien with Haren Bhakta: Inside Ownership, Founder-Led Companies & The Skin in the Game Index

In this episode of The Intelligent Investing Podcast, host Eric Schleien speaks with Haren Bhakta, creator of the Inside Ownership Index, also known as the “Skin in the Game Index.”

The Inside Ownership 100 tracks companies with high insider ownership, focusing on founder-led businesses where leadership has real skin in the game. Eric and Haren discuss why founder culture drives innovation, how insider ownership impacts long-term returns, and what happens when legendary leaders like Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos step back from their companies.

Key Topics:



Why insider ownership matters for long-term compounding




The culture shift when founders leave (Intel, Nike, Starbucks, etc.)




Backtesting results: founder-led companies vs. the S&P 500




How index funds rebalance after founders exit




What sectors benefit most from the Inside Ownership methodology




Insights from Berkshire Hathaway, Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, and more




Resources & Links:



Guest Website: InsideOwnership.com




Guest LinkedIn: Haren Bhakta




Host Website: EricSchleien.com



Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n10RUbD75co