I used to work for a woman who, I decided after a while, reminded me a lot of Hillary Clinton. At first, I thought this was an interesting parallel: woman of a certain age realizing her ambition and going after power. An interesting angle, if you leave aside the means of seizing that power.

Then I remembered that that boss was a micromanager who let crises rule the workflow and whose emotions ruled the day.

Not the kind of person who I want running our country (but who knows what Hillary is really like).

Another person who strikes me as that type of woman is Anna Wintour (who is friends with Huma Abedin, Hillary’s top aide), with her near-perfect stranglehold over the fashion industry.

Wintour has the power — the Met Gala is her party, after all. Since she took over as the event’s chair in 1995, she’s turned it from a mere annual fund-raiser for the MetropolitanMuseum of Art’s costume institute into Manhattan’s most star-studded happening. In 2014, the Met even renamed the institute the Anna Wintour Costume Center.

“Anna controls it all,” seconded the fashion-industry insider. “Some celebrities [attending the Met Gala] have existing relationships with designers, but otherwise Anna matches up the celeb with a designer — [the designer] works with the celebrity directly, and someone at Vogue, on a specific look.”

Part of me wonders if this excessive influence over the fashion industry is part of what has made it so circular and uninspiring. From the outside, at least, it seems like everything in fashion grows toward the editorial concept(s) of Vogue and there’s very little room for free thought and fresh ideas.

The longer that I’ve worked for women – and I’m sure there are some great female bosses out there but I sure haven’t worked for one – the more wary I am of the misplaced maternal instinct.

This boss wants to help you, especially if you come across as a “child” to her, but wants to help you in the Right way; that is, she only wants to help you in the way that she wants you to be helped.

So there may be a professional development plan, or a raise, or a perk, but it’s all on her terms and it’s very personal if you decide that any one of these things might not be right for you.

There’s room to grow and develop….in the space she gives to you.

Like those horrifying moms who don’t let their kids grow up and make independent choices, except this mom has no actual responsibility over your long-term welfare.

My advice? Avoid these women. If a potential boss pre-negotiates on your behalf, run.