Harness CI significantly enhances build performance and streamlines CI/CD pipelines by utilizing Docker Layer Caching (DLC) and multi-stage Dockerfiles, which optimize build processes by reusing unchanged image layers and breaking builds into stages. This approach not only accelerates build times, achieving up to an 8X improvement in performance compared to GitHub Actions, but also reduces infrastructure costs and improves image security by minimizing the final image's attack surface. DLC allows for flexibility in cache management across both Harness Cloud and self-managed infrastructures, enhancing developer productivity and ensuring faster feedback loops. Dewan Ahmed, a Principal Developer Advocate at Harness, shares insights and experiences from his career in tech, emphasizing the importance of efficient infrastructure and advocating for underrepresented groups in technology.