But CEO…is that too big of a leap? We need a modern comparison.

Let’s take a closer look at how Zheng He performs based on the 21st century leadership standards of Entrepreneur magazine’s 5 Core Responsibilities of a CEO:

1. Own the vision

The prodigious Yongle emperor (builder of the Forbidden City) selected Zheng He above all other chief executive candidates based on a deep trust and affection. Following the emperor’s mandate, Zheng He activated the vision of spreading the seeds of Ming culture.

In his seven voyages from 1405 to 1433, admiral Zheng He and his enormous fleet covered ports of call from Southeast Asia westward to India, the Middle East and Africa. His multi-ocean journeys began nearly 90 years before Christopher Columbus, who set out to find a shorter route to Asia. Gavin Menzies in his controversial bestseller 1421: The Year China Discovered America even claims that Zheng He beat Columbus to the punch.

Bold speculations aside, discovering new western worlds was hardly Zheng He’s intention. His diplomatic expeditions sought tribute from known states, and in return, offered silk, porcelain and other rare gifts, plus “big brother” protection and trade opportunities. Dr. Zhang Xingang, President of Hong Kong City University, suggests that China also wanted Middle Eastern allies to offset the powerful nomadic peoples on its western front. But first and foremost, the journeys were intended to impress others with the dynasty’s greatness and grandeur.

“Trying to picture what settling other planets might entail? One place to look is 15th-century China.” – Charles Mann

2. Provide the proper resources

Zheng He faced a daunting challenge managing human and physical resources during a time without computers, bar codes and RFID chips. The work started long before they set sail. During his career, Zheng oversaw the preparation of upwards of 1400 naval vessels including massive treasure ships, the largest measuring 480 feet (160 meters) in length with 12 sails, 4 decks and full load of 7,000 tons.

Filling those ships required a complex sourcing initiative – from full collections of herbs & remedies to spare parts for virtually everything – along with a commensurate training and development effort. National University of Singapore (NUS) professor Hum Sin Hoon identifies the seven voyages as having built up a floating supply chain spanning Asia to the Middle East and Africa, and views Zheng He as an early trailblazer of China’s open-door policy.

3. Build the culture

Here’s the easiest of the five CEO responsibilities for Zheng He. Any sailor or specialist seeking out an odyssey of this magnitude almost certainly would have been drawn to its high risk adventure. And among the crew and soldiers forced to go, well, it’s either get with the program or get tossed overboard. That said, the opportunity to travel or relocate to exotic faraway lands, spreading cultural expertise while spending state money, doesn’t sound like an unattractive career option.