Rice launches faith business after 130 job rejections
Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice started a faith business after 130 job rejections and feels overwhelmed.
Why it matters
The story shows how a public figure responds to career rejection, which many readers facing job hunting recognise.
In Australia. Stephanie Rice is an Australian Olympic gold medallist, making her career moves closely watched by local audiences who remember her swimming career.
Key facts
- 130+
- Job rejections
- 12
- Days into business
- Dubai since late 2023
- Current location
- Pastor Mark Lassey, married 2025
- Spouse
- After months of applying for corporate roles, Stephanie Rice stepped back and launched a business she says God gave her.
- Just 12 days in, the former Olympic swimmer is juggling product ideas including a prayer board pack and a mail club.
- Rice, 38, posted on Instagram that her brain is "not managing" the flood of creative elements and designs.
- Stephanie Rice said she's been praying for clarity and structure to sort the ideas into a workable process.
- The pivot came after she was rejected from more than 130 jobs.
- She left her corporate director role believing she was instructed to do so by faith.
- Rice has lived in Dubai since late 2023 and married pastor Mark Lassey in 2025.
