Inside AWM Office Hours: A Candid Conversation with Cori Abraham
Members of the Alliance for Women in Media gathered for the latest AWM Office Hours virtual session featuring Cori Abraham, Senior Vice President of Unscripted Entertainment at Versant. Known for her decades-long career across cable networks and her deep expertise in unscripted programming, Ms. Abraham offered an unfiltered look at the evolving media landscape, sharing both hard truths and hard-earned optimism. From navigating industry disruption to embracing reinvention, the session delivered exactly what Office Hours are designed to provide: access, honesty, and community.
Ms. Abraham spoke candidly about the current state of unscripted television, describing it as “a real reset” driven by cord-cutting, consolidation, and changing business models. While acknowledging how painful this moment has been for many professionals, she emphasized that content isn’t disappearing – it’s being redistributed. “We’re still making content,” she noted, explaining how networks are rethinking where and how stories live, from FAST channels to AVOD platforms to podcasts. Her advice to professionals navigating uncertainty was practical and forward-looking: “As AI becomes more of a tool…I would suggest everybody embrace it and become an expert in it.”
The conversation also turned personal, as Ms. Abraham reflected on fear, confidence, and career longevity. Asked how she handled stepping into roles she felt underqualified for, she said simply, “Sometimes you just gotta throw yourself in the deep end.” She credited curiosity, learning on the job, and expanding her skillset as key to her resilience, encouraging emerging leaders to think beyond job titles. “Don’t just be able to make a show,” she advised. “Have skills that translate, because that’s where the fear comes from when an industry shrinks.”
AWM Office Hours are an exclusive member benefit designed to foster connection and real-world insight from top leaders across media. Sessions like this one with Cori Abraham are a reminder of the power of access; being able to ask questions, hear honest answers, and learn directly from those shaping the future of the industry. If you’re looking for community, perspective, and a seat at the table, AWM membership opens the door. Join us for future Office Hours and be part of the conversation.
For more information about the AWM Office Hours program, please email amy.burton@allwomeninmedia.org.