During the Ancient Egyptian period, having strong Pharaohs was essential to the maintenance and growth of civilization, as Pharaohs were believed to be living gods. Although Ancient Egyptian leadership was often dominated by men, there were admirable female pharaohs who successfully gained power and left a positive legacy; one woman who achieved this was Hatshepsut, meaning "the foremost of noble women." Her innovation and determination allowed her to maintain her position as Pharaoh for approximately twenty years (1479-1458 BC). Hatshepsut was considered a highly successful leader for her confidence and ambition, magnificent building projects, and creation of a strong trade network. An essential characteristic of being a great leader, consistent with many, is confidence. A person may have ideas, but to realize them requires self-confidence to turn them into reality. Hatshepsut portrayed herself as a very confident woman taking the initiative to do things that only the pharaoh would commonly do, such as performing certain religious rituals, making offerings directly to the gods, and commissioning various building projects. These actions made it clear that he considered himself important and powerful, and soon others believed this too; she was considered the wife of God of Amen and became a priestess in temple rituals. Hatshepsut also depicted herself as male: she dressed in a kilt, a crown, and wore an artificial beard. This clearly shows that she had a great ambition to become king, as she took on the daring task of creating a false persona just so she could achieve her goal. Despite the typical male-dominated society, Hatshepsut demonstrated self-confidence that she could become… a paper medium… who was very proud of the trade network she had further established. Hatshepsut was born into a wealthy and educated family; however, he showed qualities innate in most great leaders. She was courageous, ambitious, confident and innovative. This allowed her to become the female pharaoh during the 18th Dynasty, and in a male-dominated society, this was seen as an achievement among historians analyzing women in power. Hatshepsut's willingness to adopt the role of Pharaoh before her reign paints her as a strong and independent female leader. His construction projects and further establishment of trade positively impacted Ancient Egypt socially, economically and intellectually by creating opportunities and further expanding their knowledge. Ultimately, Hatshepsut is considered an influential and highly successful leader in ancient history.