Thorsten Geck is the winner of the 2026 ITAA Service Award, and Sailaja "Sai" Manacha is the winner of the 2026 Muriel James Living Principles Award. The International Transactional Analysis Association officially announced the two laureates, recognizing their distinct but equally vital contributions to the global psychological and organizational community.

Geck, a past president of the ITAA, is recognized for his administrative resilience and structural leadership over a nearly 15-year tenure. Manacha, the founder of the leadership practice Physis, is honored for her practical integration of transactional analysis principles into corporate environments, gender equity initiatives and grassroots community work.

During his time on the board of trustees and as president, Geck spearheaded a critical and complex organizational restructuring. He managed the ITAA’s legal and administrative transition from a public benefit organization to a professional association, while simultaneously handling the intricate C3 to C6 certification transitions.

"One of his most significant contributions was his unwavering leadership in the major arduous task of the transformation," said former ITAA President Chitra Ravi. "Thorsten chaired the committee with clarity and strength as we navigated numerous complexities, including difficult and repeated interactions with lawyers. He remained resolute throughout."

Geck’s tenure was also marked by crisis management and diplomatic engagements. He represented the ITAA during sensitive negotiations with the European Association for Transactional Analysis and frequently assumed additional responsibilities to maintain organizational stability when other board members unexpectedly departed their posts.

"He brought a rare balance of warmth and firmness — steady in his leadership, yet never avoiding the difficult conversations that protect the integrity of the association," said ITAA General Secretary Rema K. Giridhar. "What also stood out strongly was his willingness to step in and take responsibility when others on the board had to leave or were unable to continue."

• Explore Thorsten Geck’s nominations

The Muriel James Living Principles Award, which recognizes the active embodiment of transactional analysis values, shifts the focus to Manacha’s practical applications of the theory. Through her book, "Step Up: Women, Leadership and the Power of Your Voice," and programs like The Men's Circle, she has moved the practice out of traditional therapy rooms and into global corporate boardrooms.

"She lives these values not only in what she teaches but also in how she teaches — with respect, openness and a deep belief in the OK-ness of each person," said colleague Suriyaprakash C., noting her foundational focus on autonomy, awareness and intimacy.

Beyond corporate leadership, Manacha has directed her expertise toward nonprofit and educational sectors. Her initiatives include training public school teachers in rural Karnataka, India, to engage students with dignity, as well as volunteering with the Hope Works foundation to build emotional literacy and positive self-image among young girls.

"It's not hierarchies that guide her, it's relationships," observed colleague Gunjan Zutshi regarding Manacha’s egalitarian approach. Mentee Deepak Dhananjaya echoed this sentiment, stating, "Sai empowers individuals to claim their own thinking and agency ... creating a safe space for vulnerability without patronizing or infantilizing."

Peers frequently highlighted the alignment between Manacha’s public teachings and her private conduct. Longtime colleague Annie described her as possessing a "strong spine and soft heart," recalling how Manacha and her husband interrupted their own holiday preparations to visit her in the hospital to sing Christmas carols.

• Explore Sailaja Manacha’s nominations

The 2026 ITAA awards ultimately highlight two complementary methods of advancing the field of transactional analysis. Geck provided the institutional fortitude and governance required to sustain the global association, while Manacha demonstrated how the framework’s psychological principles can be actively deployed to drive social and organizational change.