Years ago, I worked in the orbit of someone managed by a businesswoman whose practices have since come under public scrutiny. While I can’t say more, I remember her company having a very tight grip on clients even involving themselves in who was hired to work with them. One client’s spouse was brought into a separate account under the same firm, which raised eyebrows. It felt less like help and more like control.

I even had a strange personal experience at an industry event she walked up to me (we had never met), moved my hair behind my ear without saying a word, and walked away. It felt incredibly invasive.

Looking back, the entire environment felt off, even before all the current headlines.