diff --git a/PyMI/Application.cpp b/PyMI/Application.cpp
index e51aa18..c37a62f 100644
--- a/PyMI/Application.cpp
+++ b/PyMI/Application.cpp
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ static PyObject* Application_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *k
 
 static int Application_init(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* appId = L"";
+    char* appId = "";
     static char *kwlist[] = { "app_id", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "|u", kwlist, &appId))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "|s", kwlist, &appId))
         return -1;
 
     try
     {
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            self->app = std::make_shared<MI::Application>(appId);
+            self->app = std::make_shared<MI::Application>(ToWstring(appId).c_str());
         });
         return 0;
     }
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ static int Application_init(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 
 static PyObject* Application_NewSession(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* protocol = L"";
-    wchar_t* computerName = L".";
+    char* protocol = "";
+    char* computerName = ".";
     PyObject* destinationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "protocol", "computer_name", "destination_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "|uuO", kwlist, &protocol, &computerName, &destinationOptions))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "|ssO", kwlist, &protocol, &computerName, &destinationOptions))
         return NULL;
 
     try
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static PyObject* Application_NewSession(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObj
 
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Session> session;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            session = self->app->NewSession(protocol, computerName,
+            session = self->app->NewSession(ToWstring(protocol).c_str(), ToWstring(computerName).c_str(),
                 !CheckPyNone(destinationOptions) ? ((DestinationOptions*)destinationOptions)->destinationOptions : NULL);
         });
         return (PyObject*)Session_New(session);
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ static void Application_dealloc(Application* self)
 static PyObject* Application_NewMethodInboundParameters(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
     PyObject* pyClass = NULL;
-    wchar_t* methodName = NULL;
+    char* methodName = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "mi_class", "method_name", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "Ou", kwlist, &pyClass, &methodName))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "Os", kwlist, &pyClass, &methodName))
         return NULL;
 
     try
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static PyObject* Application_NewMethodInboundParameters(Application *self, PyObj
 
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Instance> instance;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            instance = self->app->NewMethodParamsInstance(*((Class*)pyClass)->miClass, methodName);
+            instance = self->app->NewMethodParamsInstance(*((Class*)pyClass)->miClass, ToWstring(methodName).c_str());
         });
         return (PyObject*)Instance_New(instance);
     }
@@ -110,16 +110,16 @@ static PyObject* Application_NewMethodInboundParameters(Application *self, PyObj
 
 static PyObject* Application_NewInstance(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* className = NULL;
+    char* className = NULL;
     static char *kwlist[] = { "class_name", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "u", kwlist, &className))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "s", kwlist, &className))
         return NULL;
 
     try
     {
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Instance> instance;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            instance = self->app->NewInstance(className);
+            instance = self->app->NewInstance(ToWstring(className).c_str());
         });
         return (PyObject*)Instance_New(instance);
     }
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@ static PyObject* Application_NewInstance(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyOb
 
 static PyObject* Application_NewInstanceFromClass(Application *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* className = NULL;
+    char* className = NULL;
     PyObject* miClass = NULL;
     static char *kwlist[] = { "class_name", "mi_class", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uO", kwlist, &className, &miClass))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sO", kwlist, &className, &miClass))
         return NULL;
 
     try
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ static PyObject* Application_NewInstanceFromClass(Application *self, PyObject *a
 
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Instance> instance;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            instance = self->app->NewInstanceFromClass(className, *((Class*)miClass)->miClass);
+            instance = self->app->NewInstanceFromClass(ToWstring(className).c_str(), *((Class*)miClass)->miClass);
         });
         return (PyObject*)Instance_New(instance);
     }
diff --git a/PyMI/DestinationOptions.cpp b/PyMI/DestinationOptions.cpp
index 73a9034..e16ab1f 100644
--- a/PyMI/DestinationOptions.cpp
+++ b/PyMI/DestinationOptions.cpp
@@ -75,15 +75,15 @@ static PyObject* DestinationOptions_GetUILocale(DestinationOptions* self)
 
 static PyObject* DestinationOptions_SetUILocale(DestinationOptions* self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* locale = NULL;
+    char* locale = NULL;
     static char *kwlist[] = { "locale_name", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "u", kwlist, &locale))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "s", kwlist, &locale))
         return NULL;
 
     try
     {
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            self->destinationOptions->SetUILocale(locale);
+            self->destinationOptions->SetUILocale(ToWstring(locale).c_str());
         });
         Py_RETURN_NONE;
     }
@@ -139,15 +139,15 @@ static PyObject* DestinationOptions_SetTimeout(DestinationOptions* self, PyObjec
 
 static PyObject* DestinationOptions_SetTransport(DestinationOptions* self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* transport = NULL;
+    char* transport = NULL;
     static char *kwlist[] = { "transport", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "u", kwlist, &transport))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "s", kwlist, &transport))
         return NULL;
 
     try
     {
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            self->destinationOptions->SetTransport(transport);
+            self->destinationOptions->SetTransport(ToWstring(transport).c_str());
         });
         Py_RETURN_NONE;
     }
@@ -178,26 +178,26 @@ static PyObject* DestinationOptions_GetTransport(DestinationOptions* self)
 
 static PyObject* DestinationOptions_AddCredentials(DestinationOptions* self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* authType = NULL;
-    wchar_t* domain = NULL;
-    wchar_t* username = NULL;
-    wchar_t* password = NULL;
-    wchar_t* certThumbprint = NULL;
+    char* authType = NULL;
+    char* domain = NULL;
+    char* username = NULL;
+    char* password = NULL;
+    char* certThumbprint = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "auth_type", "domain", "username", "password", "cert_thumbprint", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "u|uuuu", kwlist,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "s|ssss", kwlist,
                                      &authType, &domain, &username, &password, &certThumbprint))
         return NULL;
 
     try
     {
-        if (certThumbprint && wcslen(certThumbprint))
+        if (ToWstring(certThumbprint).c_str() && wcslen(ToWstring(certThumbprint).c_str()))
             AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-                self->destinationOptions->AddCredentials(authType, certThumbprint);
+                self->destinationOptions->AddCredentials(ToWstring(authType).c_str(), ToWstring(certThumbprint).c_str());
             });
         else
             AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-                self->destinationOptions->AddCredentials(authType, domain, username, password);
+                self->destinationOptions->AddCredentials(ToWstring(authType).c_str(), ToWstring(domain).c_str(), ToWstring(username).c_str(), ToWstring(password).c_str());
             });
         Py_RETURN_NONE;
     }
diff --git a/PyMI/OperationOptions.cpp b/PyMI/OperationOptions.cpp
index 2122920..18c528f 100644
--- a/PyMI/OperationOptions.cpp
+++ b/PyMI/OperationOptions.cpp
@@ -101,13 +101,13 @@ static PyObject* OperationOptions_SetTimeout(OperationOptions* self, PyObject* t
 
 static PyObject* OperationOptions_SetCustomOption(OperationOptions* self,  PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* optionName = NULL;
+    char* optionName = NULL;
     unsigned int optionValueType = 0;
     PyObject* optionValue = NULL;
     PyObject* mustComply = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "name", "value_type", "value", "must_comply", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uIO|O", kwlist,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sIO|O", kwlist,
                                      &optionName, &optionValueType,
                                      &optionValue, &mustComply))
         return NULL;
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static PyObject* OperationOptions_SetCustomOption(OperationOptions* self,  PyObj
     {
         auto miValue = Py2MI(optionValue, (MI_Type)optionValueType);
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            self->operationOptions->SetCustomOption(optionName, (MI_Type)optionValueType,
+            self->operationOptions->SetCustomOption(ToWstring(optionName).c_str(), (MI_Type)optionValueType,
                                                     *miValue, PyObject_IsTrue(mustComply));
         });
         Py_RETURN_NONE;
diff --git a/PyMI/Session.cpp b/PyMI/Session.cpp
index 7003e61..010d532 100644
--- a/PyMI/Session.cpp
+++ b/PyMI/Session.cpp
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ static void Session_dealloc(Session* self)
 
 static PyObject* Session_ExecQuery(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
-    wchar_t* query = NULL;
-    wchar_t* dialect = L"WQL";
+    char* ns = NULL;
+    char* query = NULL;
+    char* dialect = "WQL";
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "query", "dialect", "operation_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uu|uO", kwlist, &ns, &query,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "ss|sO", kwlist, &ns, &query,
                                      &dialect, &operationOptions))
         return NULL;
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_ExecQuery(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Operation> op;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
             op = self->session->ExecQuery(
-                ns, query, dialect,
+                ToWstring(ns).c_str(), ToWstring(query).c_str(), ToWstring(dialect).c_str(),
                 !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                     ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
                     : NULL);
@@ -73,17 +73,17 @@ static PyObject* Session_ExecQuery(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds
 static PyObject* Session_GetAssociators(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
     PyObject* instance = NULL;
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
-    wchar_t* assocClass = L"";
-    wchar_t* resultClass = L"";
-    wchar_t* role = L"";
-    wchar_t* resultRole = L"";
+    char* ns = NULL;
+    char* assocClass = "";
+    char* resultClass = "";
+    char* role = "";
+    char* resultRole = "";
     PyObject* keysOnlyObj = NULL;
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "instance", "assoc_class", "result_class",
                               "role", "result_role", "keys_only", "operation_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uO|uuuuOO", kwlist, &ns, &instance,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sO|ssssOO", kwlist, &ns, &instance,
                                      &assocClass, &resultClass, &role, &resultRole,
                                      &keysOnlyObj, &operationOptions))
         return NULL;
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ static PyObject* Session_GetAssociators(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Operation> op;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
             op = self->session->GetAssociators(
-                ns, *((Instance*)instance)->instance, assocClass,
-                resultClass, role, resultRole, keysOnly,
+                ToWstring(ns).c_str(), *((Instance*)instance)->instance, ToWstring(assocClass).c_str(),
+                ToWstring(resultClass).c_str(), ToWstring(role).c_str(), ToWstring(resultRole).c_str(), keysOnly,
                 !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                     ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
                     : NULL);
@@ -150,12 +150,12 @@ static PyObject* Session_exit(Session* self, PyObject*)
 
 static PyObject* Session_CreateInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
+    char* ns = NULL;
     PyObject* instance = NULL;
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "instance", "operation_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uO|O", kwlist, &ns,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sO|O", kwlist, &ns,
                                      &instance, &operationOptions))
         return NULL;
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_CreateInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
             self->session->CreateInstance(
-                ns, *((Instance*)instance)->instance,
+                ToWstring(ns).c_str(), *((Instance*)instance)->instance,
                 !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                     ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
                     : NULL);
@@ -183,12 +183,12 @@ static PyObject* Session_CreateInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
 static PyObject* Session_ModifyInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
+    char* ns = NULL;
     PyObject* instance = NULL;
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "instance", "operation_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uO|O", kwlist, &ns,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sO|O", kwlist, &ns,
                                      &instance, &operationOptions))
         return NULL;
 
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_ModifyInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
             self->session->ModifyInstance(
-                ns, *((Instance*)instance)->instance,
+                ToWstring(ns).c_str(), *((Instance*)instance)->instance,
                 !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                     ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
                     : NULL);
@@ -216,12 +216,12 @@ static PyObject* Session_ModifyInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
 static PyObject* Session_DeleteInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
+    char* ns = NULL;
     PyObject* instance = NULL;
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "instance", "operation_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uO|O", kwlist, &ns,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sO|O", kwlist, &ns,
                                      &instance, &operationOptions))
         return NULL;
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_DeleteInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
             self->session->DeleteInstance(
-                ns, *((Instance*)instance)->instance,
+                ToWstring(ns).c_str(), *((Instance*)instance)->instance,
                 !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                     ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
                     : NULL);
@@ -249,18 +249,18 @@ static PyObject* Session_DeleteInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject
 
 static PyObject* Session_GetClass(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
-    wchar_t* className = NULL;
+    char* ns = NULL;
+    char* className = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "class_name", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uu", kwlist, &ns, &className))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "ss", kwlist, &ns, &className))
         return NULL;
 
     try
     {
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Operation> op;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            op = self->session->GetClass(ns, className);
+            op = self->session->GetClass(ToWstring(ns).c_str(), ToWstring(className).c_str());
         });
         return (PyObject*)Operation_New(op);
     }
@@ -273,11 +273,11 @@ static PyObject* Session_GetClass(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 
 static PyObject* Session_GetInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
+    char* ns = NULL;
     PyObject* keyInstance = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "key_instance", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uO", kwlist, &ns, &keyInstance))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "sO", kwlist, &ns, &keyInstance))
         return NULL;
 
     try
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_GetInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kw
 
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Operation> op;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            op = self->session->GetInstance(ns, *((Instance*)keyInstance)->instance);
+            op = self->session->GetInstance(ToWstring(ns).c_str(), *((Instance*)keyInstance)->instance);
         });
         return (PyObject*)Operation_New(op);
     }
@@ -300,14 +300,14 @@ static PyObject* Session_GetInstance(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kw
 
 static PyObject* Session_Subscribe(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
-    wchar_t* ns = NULL;
-    wchar_t* query = NULL;
+    char* ns = NULL;
+    char* query = NULL;
     PyObject* indicationResultCallback = NULL;
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
-    wchar_t* dialect = L"WQL";
+    char* dialect = "WQL";
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "ns", "query", "indication_result", "operation_options", "dialect", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "uu|OOu", kwlist, &ns, &query, &indicationResultCallback, &operationOptions, &dialect))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "ss|OOs", kwlist, &ns, &query, &indicationResultCallback, &operationOptions, &dialect))
         return NULL;
 
     try
@@ -325,9 +325,9 @@ static PyObject* Session_Subscribe(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds
 
         std::shared_ptr<MI::Operation> op;
         AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-            op = self->session->Subscribe(ns, query, callbacks,
+            op = self->session->Subscribe(ToWstring(ns).c_str(), ToWstring(query).c_str(), callbacks,
                 !CheckPyNone(operationOptions) ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions : NULL,
-                dialect);
+                ToWstring(dialect).c_str());
         });
         PyObject* obj = (PyObject*)Operation_New(op);
         if (callbacks)
@@ -346,12 +346,12 @@ static PyObject* Session_Subscribe(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds
 static PyObject* Session_InvokeMethod(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 {
     PyObject* target = NULL;
-    wchar_t* methodName = NULL;
+    char* methodName = NULL;
     PyObject* inboundParams = NULL;
     PyObject* operationOptions = NULL;
 
     static char *kwlist[] = { "target", "method_name", "inbound_params", "operation_options", NULL };
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "Ou|OO", kwlist,
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "Os|OO", kwlist,
                                      &target, &methodName, &inboundParams, &operationOptions))
         return NULL;
 
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_InvokeMethod(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *k
         if (PyObject_IsInstance(target, reinterpret_cast<PyObject*>(&InstanceType)))
         {
             AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
-                op = self->session->InvokeMethod(*((Instance*)target)->instance, methodName,
+                op = self->session->InvokeMethod(*((Instance*)target)->instance, ToWstring(methodName).c_str(),
                     !CheckPyNone(inboundParams) ? ((Instance*)inboundParams)->instance : NULL,
                     !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                         ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ static PyObject* Session_InvokeMethod(Session *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *k
         {
             AllowThreads(&self->cs, [&]() {
                 auto miClass = ((Class*)target)->miClass;
-                op = self->session->InvokeMethod(miClass->GetNameSpace(), miClass->GetClassName(), methodName,
+                op = self->session->InvokeMethod(miClass->GetNameSpace(), miClass->GetClassName(), ToWstring(methodName).c_str(),
                     !CheckPyNone(inboundParams) ? ((Instance*)inboundParams)->instance : NULL,
                     !CheckPyNone(operationOptions)
                         ? ((OperationOptions*)operationOptions)->operationOptions
diff --git a/PyMI/Utils.cpp b/PyMI/Utils.cpp
index 0588604..441dbc9 100644
--- a/PyMI/Utils.cpp
+++ b/PyMI/Utils.cpp
@@ -516,3 +516,31 @@ void ValidatePyObjectType(PyObject* obj, const std::wstring& objName,
         throw MI::TypeConversionException(
             L"\"" + objName + L"\"must have type " + expectedTypeName);
 }
+
+std::wstring ToWstring(const std::string& inString)
+{
+    if (inString.empty())
+    {
+        return L"";
+    }
+
+    int sizeNeeded = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_UTF8, 0, &inString.at(0), (int)inString.size(), nullptr, 0);
+    if (sizeNeeded <= 0)
+    {
+        DWORD err = GetLastError();
+        throw MI::TypeConversionException(
+            L"wstring conversion failed. Error: " + std::to_wstring(err));
+    }
+
+    std::wstring result(sizeNeeded, 0);
+    sizeNeeded = MultiByteToWideChar(
+        CP_UTF8, 0, &inString.at(0), (int)inString.size(),
+        &result.at(0), sizeNeeded);
+    if (sizeNeeded <= 0) {
+        DWORD err = GetLastError();
+        throw MI::TypeConversionException(
+            L"wstring conversion failed. Error: " + std::to_wstring(err));
+    }
+
+    return result;
+}
diff --git a/PyMI/Utils.h b/PyMI/Utils.h
index b4a556a..d6643d2 100644
--- a/PyMI/Utils.h
+++ b/PyMI/Utils.h
@@ -20,3 +20,4 @@ bool CheckPyNone(PyObject* obj);
 void ValidatePyObjectType(PyObject* obj, const std::wstring& objName,
                           PyTypeObject* expectedType, const std::wstring& expectedTypeName,
                           bool allowNone = true);
+std::wstring ToWstring(const std::string& inString);
\ No newline at end of file