From Automotive to EV Innovation: How Faith Guides Michael Battaglia’s Leadership
Michael Battaglia
Chief Executive Officer of Blink Charging
Website: blinkcharging.com
Michael Battaglia, President and CEO of Blink Charging, has spent over 30 years in the automotive industry, leading through seasons of growth, uncertainty, and transformation. His story is not just about the rise of electric vehicles or corporate leadership—it’s about a man who encountered Jesus Christ, learned to lean on prayer, and now leads with faith at the center of his work. In his words and actions, Michael reminds us that true leadership is about surrender, service, and seeking God’s wisdom in every decision.
From Baseball to Belief — Meeting Christ in Disappointment
Michael’s journey to Christ began in an unexpected place—on the baseball field. After a promising start in high school, he found himself benched for the rest of the season. What seemed like failure became the opening for a greater calling. Instead of clinging to sports, Michael chose a Young Life retreat where he surrendered his life to Jesus.
Lesson for us: God often uses our disappointments to redirect us toward His purpose. As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Marriage, Family, and the Refining Fire of Love
Michael speaks openly about the beauty and challenges of marriage. He and his wife took bold steps of faith early on—she moved across the country after only two dates, and they’ve now celebrated nearly 30 years of marriage. For him, marriage has been a crucible for humility, patience, and unconditional love.
Lesson for us: Marriage and family are God’s training grounds for leadership. They teach us humility and endurance. As Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” Michael models servant leadership starting at home.
Leading Through Storms with Prayer as the Anchor
From overseeing exponential growth at Blink Charging to navigating painful downsizing, Michael has experienced both mountaintops and valleys. Through it all, prayer has been his anchor. He admits that when he fails to bring challenges before God, anxiety and stress take over. But surrendering in prayer restores peace.
Lesson for us: Leadership without prayer leads to burnout; leadership with prayer brings peace. Philippians 4:6–7 promises that when we present our requests to God with thanksgiving, His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Gratitude and Perspective in Leadership
Michael emphasizes gratitude as a powerful antidote to fear and stress. Even in hard times, he chooses to thank God and pray for others. He shares how focusing on someone else’s company in prayer gave him freedom from anxiety about his own.
Lesson for us: Gratitude shifts our perspective from scarcity to abundance. As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” A thankful leader becomes a hopeful leader.
Doing Good and Building a Legacy of Hope
When asked what message he’d put on a billboard, Michael answered simply: “Doing good.” For him, leadership is not just about profits but about making the world better—one charger, one decision, one act of faith at a time.
Lesson for us: True leadership leaves a legacy of good works rooted in Christ. As Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Closing Reflection
Michael Battaglia’s journey reminds us that leadership is more than strategy—it is surrender. It’s choosing Christ over ego, prayer over anxiety, gratitude over fear, and service over self. Whether in boardrooms or our daily walk, his story calls us to anchor our hope in Jesus Christ, who is the true source of wisdom, strength, and peace.
Written by Jovilyn Dela Cruz
“When I turn things over to the Lord and really accept that we have an ever-present God who helps us in times of trouble, that changes everything.”
