What constitutes a good product manager and when should we hire one?
kapuno.com
kapuno.com
It seems the opening sentence should read "Product management" and not "Project management".
Incidentally, I was going to comment on that article but it wants too much permissions on my social accounts.
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1. The traditional path
Product management is generally a role that you should take after you have some professional development under you belt. The best product managers I've met were at one time in the engineering/development pit.
That said, the simplest way is to get a job doing design/programming and make sure your employer knows that you'd like to move in that direction and agree that you'll be there in X years. Shadow and work with the PM's at the company.
If they don't move you in to a PM in the time, you can look elsewhere and with a few years of development under your belt you'd have a better chance of getting the management hire.
The key is that you make sure whatever you do, you show leadership and the fact that you're a self-starter.
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2. The startup path
Go work (found) a startup and basically act as the project manager. If the org grows (which is a big if) you'll slowly become that role and hire people around you. If not, you'll have to try again. It's more risky but potentially could get you to a PM role faster.
In the end, I'd recommend you pick up Marty Cagan's "Inspired" http://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Create-Products-Customers-Lov... -- it discusses product management in much more detail.