Stephanie Rice is pausing her search for a full-time position after making more than 130 job applications over eight months, saying she sees her latest rejection as a sign from God.
The 38-year-old three-time Olympic gold medallist shared an emotional career update on Instagram, revealing that she will instead turn her attention to launching a business she believes was inspired by her faith.
Stephanie recently left a director-level position while considering an opportunity to become CEO, explaining that she felt God was telling her it was time to move on.
Although she expected another exciting role to follow soon, the former Australian swimming champion said she reached the final stage of about five recruitment processes without receiving a job offer.
She has now decided to take a different path.
Speaking to the camera in a cobalt-blue sleeveless top, with her dark hair tied back and a small microphone in her hand, Stephanie admitted it had been difficult to record the update.
Stephanie Rice (pictured) is pausing her search for a full-time position after submitting more than 130 applications over eight months, saying she believes her latest rejection was a sign from God
‘The first time, I was just way too emotional. The second time, my camera cut out, so here we are with take three,’ she said in the Instagram video.
Stephanie said she had spent 15 years running her own business before taking what she described as her first formal employment role around 18 months ago.
She went on to secure two director-level roles in quick succession and, within eight months, was offered the chance to step into a CEO position.
However, she ultimately withdrew during negotiations after feeling that her time with the company had come to an end.
Stephanie had expected to find a new opportunity relatively quickly, which made the prolonged job search that followed even more challenging.
‘And to sit here eight months later and literally have nothing to show for all of this effort and emotion is so frustrating,’ she said.
In the accompanying caption, Stephanie said she had even remained at home instead of travelling to Australia several weeks earlier so she would be available for a follow-up interview.
She said she had advanced as far as fifth-round interviews and felt more experienced, educated and capable than ever, yet continued to face disappointment.
The 38-year-old three-time Olympic gold medallist shared an emotional career update on Instagram, saying she would now focus on launching a business inspired by her faith
Stephanie married pastor Mark Lassey (left) at a vineyard in Perth in January 2025, after the couple became engaged the previous September
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The decisive moment came during a prayer walk, when Stephanie resolved to treat the outcome of her latest application as an answer on whether she should continue seeking full-time employment.
‘Lord, if this job doesn’t come through, which on paper I am perfect for, I’m just taking it as the sign that you don’t want me pursuing a full-time job right now, because it does not make sense,’ she recalled praying.
Three hours later, she said, another rejection landed in her inbox.
Stephanie explained her emotional response was less about missing out on that particular position and more about accepting that her eight-month search had not unfolded as she had hoped.
But she said she also felt excited and hopeful about pursuing a business idea she believed God had given her six months earlier.
Initially intended as a side project alongside full-time work, the venture will now become her main focus for the remainder of the year.
Stephanie has yet to reveal what the business involves, promising to explain the concept in another video and document the process for her followers.
In a separate post, she appeared in a silver cowl-neck top and white trousers, standing behind a kitchen bench with her hands clasped and eyes closed.
Text over the footage encouraged followers to acknowledge the time and effort invested in a journey that had ended differently than what they had planned.
Alongside the clip, she shared a passage from Isaiah about leaving the past behind and embracing something new, adding that its references to the desert resonated with her life in Dubai.
The update follows a mixed response to Stephanie’s earlier account of leaving her job, with some followers questioning her decision to base such a significant career move on her religious beliefs.
Others offered encouragement and praised her commitment to her faith.
Stephanie acknowledged that criticism in her latest video, recalling comments telling her to get a real job, but thanking those who had supported her.
The former Olympian has increasingly shared her Christian faith online since relocating to Dubai in 2023.
Last month, she revealed she was starting a new Instagram account using her married surname, Lassey, and rebuilding her career with Jesus at the centre of her life.
Stephanie married pastor Mark Lassey at a vineyard in Perth in January 2025, following their engagement the previous September.
She rose to international fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning three gold medals for Australia.