#4056: Why 'Trust-First' Approach to Data is Essential -- and How to Build It Before It's Lost...

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MeridianLink’s VP of Data Christopher Eldredge joined us on the show to share his insights on why a “trust-first” approach to data is essential—and how to build it before it’s lost.

Here's a Q&A summary of our conversation:
Why does trust comes first with data?

• A successful data culture doesn’t start with tools, it starts with trust in data accuracy.
• Once trust is lost, it’s very difficult to rebuild — so it needs to be built in from the beginning.

Can you talk about Shared Definitions of data to Prevent Confusion?

• Key terms like “customer” or “recurring revenue” often mean different things to different departments.
• This misalignment leads to conflicting reports and decisions made on instinct rather than facts.
• Establishing a single source of truth ensures everyone works from the same baseline.

How important is it for today’s credit unions to Build a Data Community? And what does that look like?

• A “data community” brings together people across departments who rely on data, keeping definitions, standards, and priorities aligned.
• Sustaining this community requires regular meetings, office hours, and shared repositories — not just one-off efforts.

With mergers and acquisition activity being at all-time highs today, can you share Post-M&A Data Challenges for credit unions?

• Mergers often result in siloed systems and duplicate or conflicting data models.
• A business-first data model, applied consistently across systems, prevents fragmentation and supports scalability.

And, lastly, what about Making Data Quality Measurable? How does this impact credit unions looking to get the most from their data to better serve their members?

• Data quality should be measured across dimensions such as accuracy, timeliness, and completeness.
• Rolling these checks into a single, business-friendly score makes it easier for leaders to trust and act on data.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts. And be sure to watch the entire episode below for all the details.