“I am truly thankful for
everything I am able to do
at this time.”
The #believeinyourself story from Oliver Lando
12 years ago, Oliver Lando was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). He joined food group by Erste 11 years ago, recently started as head of EBOe’s Remote Service and took on the role of chairman for Erste Colours. The energetic Bavarian navigates his life with a lot of #believeinyourself, openness and an optimistic mindset.
What was your #believeinyourself moment?
The diagnosis of MS 12 years ago initially left me in a state of shock. At the time, I was working in the hospitality industry, and I didn’t know how much longer I would be able to continue in my role. The image of a wheelchair constantly haunted my thoughts. Who could tell me what my future would look like? Everything seemed so uncertain.
What did you do then?
I applied for another position in the hospitality sector and openly shared my diagnosis right from the start. I never heard back from them. When I approached Erste, however, they handled the situation with remarkable openness and I thought to myself, “This is exactly where I need to be”. And this is how I became a member of the management team at food group by Erste.
After four years, I realised that the physical demands of this job were becoming too much for me, which prompted my interest in a different role, this time in retail banking. My diagnosis was known, but I needed a lot of #believeinmyself to apply for a position in branch operations. I was filled with doubts and questions about whether I was making the right choice. I like challenges and a dynamic environment, but what if I needed a moment of quietness? What if I had a flare-up requiring therapy, putting me out of order for two weeks? How much understanding could I expect from my manager and team?
How did the conversation with your manager go?
My two managers were fantastic. They said, “What do you need? Let’s make arrangements. We’ll make it work.” I was really happy. This was how I started out in the service branches, first as a service advisor and then as a manager. And at the beginning of this year, I took over as the head of Remote Service at Erste Bank’s Remote Centre. I absolutely love my job!
How do you manage living with the “disease of a thousand faces”?
My partner and friends have been incredibly supportive from the very beginning. I’ve learned to co-exist with my disease and continue to enjoy life despite of its challenges. My motto is: I don’t live with my disease, my disease lives alongside me.
We live in the countryside near Schwechat in a home filled with a dog, cats and chickens. Taking care of them when I get home is my daily ritual of rebalance. My animals instantly know when I’m not feeling well.
MS is incurable, but there’s a lot you can do. Besides taking medication, what else do you do?
The most important thing is to listen to my body and know when to say “enough”.
I should exercise much more, but I admit that I’m not a fan. Instead, I meditate in the evenings and enjoy walks with my partner on weekends. I also like to relax with a beer in the evening. It’s all part of my routine for well-being. And what’s good for me is also good for managing my disease. Everything in moderation and with a clear goal in mind.
I’m thankful for everything I can do now. As for the future, I’m taking it as it comes. I have faith in medical research. Even though the origin of the disease is still unknown, its progression can already be slowed down significantly. It doesn't have to be that I end up in a wheelchair. But if I do, life goes on.
Do you connect with others who have MS?
Connecting with like-minded people is very important to me. Only those living with MS can truly understand what it’s like. I’ve set up a community on Facebook where we organise regular meet-ups across Austria. We intentionally exclude doctors and pharmaceutical companies. We just want to have a space where we can speak freely and say how we are doing.
What advice would you generally offer to colleagues living with a chronic disease?
In my experience, living openly with the truth is easier. This applies to interactions with friends or at work. How can friends, colleagues or managers offer their support if they’re unaware of what’s happening and what I need? If my colleagues can’t handle the truth, then this is not the right place for me. And my experience here has shown me that this is where I need to be. The support and understanding from my team have been invaluable, and for that I am immensely grateful.
My advice to you is: Be open, be courageous and remain strong!
Watch the video of Oliver Lando from Karoline Hranik here: