MRS Lim Hwee Hua may be Singapore's first woman Cabinet minister, but she is a little invisible from time to time.

When she is on official business overseas, some people still walk past her, looking for their male counterpart, she said. 'At meals, they continue to seat us women together.'

In Singapore too, she encountered the traditional male mindset. Most grassroots leaders had to get used to her when she became an MP in 1997.

Mrs Lim, 50, a newly appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, yesterday personalised the challenges of women when she addressed 800 teenage girls at the first National Young Women Leaders' Day.

But she also made a larger point to the girls aged 12 to 16: Leadership and influence are possible, even at an early age.

'Leadership is by and large gender- neutral,' she said.

It has to do with one being competent and 'dynamic enough to inspire and lead a group of people', she added.

Mrs Lim is also the Second Minister for Transport as well as Finance.

The day-long event was organised by Halogen Foundation Singapore, which trains youth for leadership.

The non-profit organisation was partnered by the Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS), whose pupils formed half the rapt audience.

Among them was SCGS head prefect and national swimmer Kristen Tan, 16, who liked the way Mrs Lim reinforced the message of 'empowerment'.

She felt it was important to hear this at a young age when 'a whole world of possibilities' lay ahead. Alive to possibilities herself, she helped start up synchronised swimming in her school at 14.

Other notable women shared their stories, with an emphasis on social responsibility.

Two entrepreneurs were invited - 77th Street founder and youth advocate Elim Chew, and Mrs Nanz Chong-Komo, who made a comeback after her One.99 shop chain failed during the 2003 Sars crisis.

Nominated MP Thio Li-ann, 41, and Cambodian sex-slave survivor Somaly Mam, 38, also shared their convictions.

Ms Chew, 42, stole the show with her witty leadership lessons on issues like investing in others.

To bring home the idea of seizing opportunity, she dangled $5 vouchers for 77th Street in front of the girls. They froze at first, before one girl jumped up and others ran forward.

She described the power of ideas - hers and others. She rallied business associates to support Singapore's bid for the Youth Olympics, for instance.

Mrs Chong-Komo, 40, who was Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000, spoke about setbacks and her comeback.

'Keep reinventing yourself,' she urged. The former model became an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, shopping columnist and is about to launch the Nanz Inc portal.

Aimed at Asian women, one feature will be video tips of the day. Topics range from business to children.

Halogen Foundation co-founder and executive director Martin Tan noted that the event was taking place at a moment when two teams of Singaporean women climbers have ascended Mount Everest.

Pioneers like them and Mrs Lim are 'history-makers', he said. 'The best part is, so can you,' he told the girls.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.