From the way Bobby Turner introduced her, you’d think Eva Longoria had a touch of multiple personality disorder.
Eva the actress.
Eva the supermodel.
Eva the activist.
Eva the philanthropist.
Eva the business woman.
But after listening to this fabulously intelligent woman speak for an hour and a half, I am sure that the only thing responsible for all these different roles is her unparalleled motivation and sincere dedication to every project she undertakes.
On October 10th, the Lauren and Bobby Turner Social Impact Executive Speaker Series hosted Longoria as its fourth social impact speaker. Founded in 2010 by Wharton alumni Bobby Turner (W’84) and Lauren Golub Turner (W’85), the program aims to promote finding sustainable solutions to world problems through “speakers you would respect, not envy.” Eva Longoria, who, as Bobby said, has transitioned “from actress to activist, fashion model to role model,” is a prime example of a leader using her hard-earned success and wealth to make a positive difference in communities and social groups.
Eva claimed she was “an ugly duckling” growing up in Corpus Christi, TX. “I was forced to develop a sense of humor because I wasn’t focused on physicality,” she said. She dove headfirst into her schoolwork, graduating from Texas A&M as a Kinesiology major intent on becoming a sports trainer. She was never without a job, one of which included flipping burgers at Wendy’s. Even when she moved to Los Angeles, her real “big break” was landing a high-paying job as a headhunter. Eva is the epitome of the American dream, and it is all a result of her own hard work mixed with the love and support of family and friends. “We have to invest in the infrastructure of opportunity,” she says. “You can do it on your own, but there is infrastructure to help you.”
Everyone knows about Eva, the star of “Desperate Housewives,” so Mr. Turner decided to focus the interview on the platform that Eva has slowly been creating for herself. She champions for education through her personal foundation and is an advocate for many Latino social interest groups, such as Padres Contra el Cancer, NCLR (National Council de la Raza) and MALDEF, which aims to provide social justice for Mexican Americans. Her interest in politics came far before her stardom, and she currently serves as national co-chair for Obama. Her primary interest is women and the Latina community; groups that she feels are “disproportionately affected by policy making.” She lit up the room with her progressive energy when she proclaimed, “I feel like we are fighting battles that we have already won!”
Longoria is truly engaged in her own “ongoing and deliberate evolution.” With so many celebrities today scared to do anything that will tarnish their image, it was really refreshing to hear her admit that some things are more important than who will pay to see her movies. Her advice to college students? “Pay attention NOW.” We are growing up in a period wrought with intense and fundamental change, and it is our duty to look up every once and a while and try to be involved in something bigger than ourselves.