Adena Friedman wants more companies back in the public market so regular investors have a shot at the riches. : Nasdaq chief executive Adena Friedman is wrapped in a woody Washington steakhouse on a steamy August afternoon, slamming her fist on a table over frustration that a vibrant corner of the economy is not available to average investors. The number of public companies is a fraction of what it was two decades ago, Friedman says. Too many businesses are staying private to avoid media scrutiny and government regulation.