I have known Sai for several decades, both as a professional and as a dear friend. We founded two organizations together and then moved on separately. I experienced mutual respect and generosity even at the time of coming together and separating.
Over the recent years, I have known Sai to speak her truth even if it is uncomfortable. Through life challenges and her rootedness in resources, Sai has had a strong sense of agency in her own growth, and sought training and learning, within and outside of transactional analysis (TA), to support her. How clear this is as she walks her path in life now. Her commitment to TA and the South Asian Association of Transactional Analysts (SAATA) continues to shine through her engagement with SAATA exam goals and structures, etc.
Her words, "strong spine and soft heart," speak of her own capacity. I still feel deeply moved when I think of last Christmas Day, when she and her husband, Noel, took off from busy Christmas preparations to visit me in the hospital. I felt so cherished as Noel played the violin and they both sang Christmas carols ... Strong spine and soft heart!
The award would be a much-deserved acknowledgment to a lovely human being who has a balanced integration of both professional and personal in her life.
